Russia says it’s ready to return Ukraine children if parents ask for them

Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for the deportations, says families could send her an email

Ukraine accuses Russia of having kidnapped more than 16,000 children since the start of its offensive more than a year ago

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Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova holds a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:20am, 5 Apr 2023Updated: 5:44am, 5 Apr 2023

Russia’s children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, wanted by the International Criminal Court for the “deportation” of Ukrainian children, said on Tuesday she is ready to send children back to Ukraine if their families request it.

Ukraine accuses Russia of having “stolen” more than 16,000 children since the start of its offensive more than a year ago.

Russia says it is “saving” the children from combat zones and that it has a procedure in place for them to be reunited with their families.

Last month, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin for the “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children.

A woman hugs her son after the bus delivering him and more than a dozen other children back from Russian-held territory arrived in Kyiv in March. Photo: AFP

During a press conference on Tuesday, Lvova-Belova said she had not been contacted by “any representative of the Ukrainian authorities” about the deported children since the start of the conflict.