By Natali Moss
For almost 20,000 young Ukrainians abducted by Russia, this removal from their homeland is not just a change of residence. For them, it is almost always isolation, pressure and systematic attempts to influence their identity and worldview," the first lady emphasized.
The President's wife spoke about the removal of entire orphanages and orphans by the Russians, the removal of children from families in the temporarily occupied territories, the forced involvement in military camps in Russia and the change of information about children, which makes it impossible to search in electronic systems. "It's scary when our children are trafficked.
And that's exactly what the Russians are doing, selecting them for adoption: Russian officials simply come to the shelters, choosing those they like the most - like living goods. And no less terrible things are prepared by kidnappers for older boys who come of age. They are drafted into the Russian army and forced to fight against their homeland," said Olena Zelenska.
On a separate panel, children who were able to return home thanks to the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA shared their experiences. The conversation with them was moderated by Daria Gerasimchuk, the head of state's authorized representative for children's rights and child rehabilitation. "I am grateful to every partner who helps us return children.
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