Ukrainians Risk Everything to Rescue Children Taken by Russia

The abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces has reached alarming levels since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of vulnerable children, many of whom are orphans or have special needs, have been forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories. One such case is that of a boy named Nikita, who has become a symbol of the struggle many families face in reclaiming their children.

Nikita, around nine years old at the time, was placed in a boarding school in Oleshky, located in the Kherson region, before the invasion. His grandmother, Polina, who has lived in Poland since 2020, was his primary support. When Russian soldiers invaded and closed in on the school, they took Nikita and other children. The new pro-Russian director informed Polina that her grandson had been sent to Crimea for rehabilitation. However, she later discovered that Nikita had been transferred to an orphanage in the Krasnodar region of Russia, and subsequently to an unknown location. The director’s claim that Nikita had no family was a devastating blow to Polina, who had been deeply concerned for his well-being.

Desperate to find Nikita, Polina sought help from Save Ukraine, an organization dedicated to locating and rescuing children taken by Russian forces. This initiative, founded in 2014, has intensified its efforts following the dramatic increase in abductions. Working with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s Bring Kids Back UA campaign, Save Ukraine was able to locate Nikita in an institution in occupied Skadovsk. The thought of her grandson living under enemy control filled Polina with fear and uncertainty about how to bring him home.

The systematic separation of children from their families has been a longstanding tactic of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, over ninety Ukrainian children were abducted but later returned. In the current conflict, the scale of abductions is staggering. Estimates suggest that approximately 20,000 children have been taken, with the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University estimating the number to be at least 35,000. As of September 2023, only 1,605 of these children have returned home.

Russian authorities have attempted to erase Ukrainian identity by offering abducted children Russian passports and embedding them in Russian culture. Reports indicate that younger children are often placed in foster care or adopted, while older children are sent to summer camps aimed at indoctrinating them into loyalty to Russia. Zelenskyy has condemned these actions as a form of genocide, stating, “Those children in Russia are taught to hate Ukraine, and all ties with their families are broken.”

In January 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to expedite the citizenship process for orphaned Ukrainian children, facilitating their adoption by Russian families. This move has raised alarm about the long-term effects of such policies on Ukrainian identity and family structures. The Canadian government has actively participated in international efforts to reclaim these children, pledging significant support for initiatives aimed at their recovery.

Polina’s journey to find Nikita was fraught with danger. After leaving Poland, she traversed Belarus and Crimea before reaching occupied Skadovsk. With assistance from Save Ukraine, she was instructed to present herself as a volunteer aid worker to avoid raising suspicion. Upon her arrival at the institution, she was confronted by the director, who insisted that he was now Nikita’s legal guardian. Despite presenting documentation proving her relationship to Nikita, Polina was told she would need to undergo a DNA test to reclaim her grandson.

After a tense confrontation, Polina was allowed to see Nikita. They embraced, and he expressed a desire to leave with her. Unfortunately, she had to depart without him, leaving her heartbroken and uncertain about the future.

The rescue efforts of organizations like Save Ukraine resemble a complex logistical operation, with local officials often providing critical information about the locations of abducted children. Families seeking to reclaim their children face numerous challenges, including navigating checkpoints and obtaining necessary documentation. The process requires financial resources that many families do not possess, placing further strain on their efforts.

As summer turned to fall in 2023, Polina remained hopeful while maintaining contact with Nikita. However, pressure mounted as Russian authorities moved to finalize his adoption. In late August, she received word that her DNA test results had come back positive, allowing her to reclaim Nikita.

On August 30, 2023, Polina arrived at the institution to find a media frenzy awaiting her. At the centre of the chaos was Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, who was under investigation for war crimes. In a staged event, she handed Nikita over to Polina, but not before attempting to convince them to remain in Russia, offering them a new life and identity.

Polina, resolute in her decision to return to Poland, declined the offer. She requested documentation to permit their travel back home, which Lvova-Belova reluctantly provided. With Nikita in tow, Polina navigated the treacherous journey back, clutching the document as a shield against potential obstacles.

The rescues coordinated by Save Ukraine are not without peril. Many families face harassment and intimidation during their attempts to reunite. In one instance, a grandmother died while on her way to rescue her granddaughter, and another mother was interrogated under duress. For families who do manage to reunite, the challenges are far from over.

Polina quickly noticed changes in Nikita after bringing him home. He had become withdrawn and anxious during his time in captivity, but with therapy and support, he began to heal. “I want to do everything possible in this life for Nikita,” Polina stated. “He is the most important person in my life, and I love him so much.”

The psychological impact on children returned from Russian custody is significant. Many require tailored programs to readjust to their previous lives. Ksenia Koldin, who was separated from her brother Serhii during the conflict, is now involved in Save Ukraine, sharing her story to raise awareness. After navigating the complexities of reclaiming her brother, Ksenia is working on a book about the ongoing crisis of stolen children.

The international community’s response to Russia’s actions has been robust, with investigations into war crimes underway. On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court announced it had sufficient evidence to pursue charges against Putin and Lvova-Belova for the unlawful deportation of children. As efforts continue to bring these children home, uncertainty looms over the future of those still in captivity, with the spectre of cultural and personal identity loss becoming a growing concern.