Russia is taking Ukrainian children. Their mothers are travelling into enemy territory to save them.
Tetyana Kraynyuk's son Sasha was one of 13 children taken by Russian troops from his special educational needs school last SeptemberWhen 15-year-old Sasha Kraynyuk studied the photograph handed to him by Ukrainian investigators, he recognised the boy dressed in Russian military uniform immediately.
When I reached the school's director by phone, she saw no problem with dressing Ukrainian children in the uniform of an invading army.I countered that the Z symbolised the war against the children's own country. "So what?" the director demanded again. "What kind of a question is that? No-one is forcing them."
The ICC hasn't made the details of its case public and nor has Ukraine, but officials in Kyiv maintain that more than 19,000 children have been taken from occupied areas since the full-scale invasion. We understand that many have come from care homes and residential schools. They're now living in the western German town of Dinklage as refugees where, after school, Sasha mainly lies on his bed playing on his phone. But he remembers very clearly the moment when Russian soldiers took him away.
As September approached, the occupying administration began insisting that all children return to school, now with the Russian curriculum. There was the same push in all occupied areas, often using teachers from Russia to replace those locals who refused to collaborate. Another fortnight after that, Tetyana's phone beeped with a message: Sasha was at a Special School in Perevalsk, she read, and his mum could call to talk to him.
She had another reason to be frightened. By then, Russia was openly taking children from care homes in occupied areas and placing them with Russian families.Russia has changed its laws to make it easier to adopt Ukrainian children In public and online, Maria Lvova-Belova referred repeatedly to children in those regions as "ours". She adopted a teenager from Mariupol herself, posting pictures with his new Russian passport.
Besides, their city had been occupied since the very start of the invasion and by October 2022, she'd begun to think Russia would control Kherson for good, though she didn't want that. The distance from Kherson to Yevpatoria is short but the direct route was closed by the Russian military and a far longer route through Zaporizhzhia was too dangerous. "There was a less than 5% chance of getting there and back safely," Alla was told.
We met as she finally set off in a train carriage full of other mums and grandmothers on the most anxious journey of their lives. The women continued the 24-hour drive south to Crimea. As they drew close, they stopped for a break and 64-year-old Olha Kutova took a couple of steps, collapsed, and died by the side of the road. After days cramped-up in a minibus, in a state of stress, her heart had given out. Now Save Ukraine is trying to return Olha's ashes, as well as her granddaughter.
In her own family, Danylo is back to bickering with his younger brother and studying online, in Ukrainian. But with no internet at home, she has to dash into the city centre to hunt for wi-fi to download his schoolwork, and that's risky. Alla forwards me a photograph of their room with rows of single beds, a cheap rug and a spider plant. Where the left-behind children go from there isn't clear.In rural Germany, Sasha has had time to settle into life and another new school, but Tetyana is finding the adjustment a little harder.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine war latest: Ballistic missiles fired at Kyiv; Belgorod in Russia 'under fire from Ukrainian troops''What Russia should be doing is targeting military targets, but, strangely, they're targeting Kyiv instead.' There's been a fresh wave of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv this morning. Sean Bell gives his analysis. 📺 Sky 501
Read more »
Ukraine war latest: Moscow hit with drone attack - Russia says Ukraine responsibleDrones have hit several buildings in the Russian capital Moscow, causing 'minor' damage and leading residents to be evacuated. Meanwhile, Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko has described an air raid on the city as a 'massive attack'.
Read more »
Why Erdogan's victory matters for the WestTurkey's global strategic role has starkly increased following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »
Russia pounds Ukraine with missile and drone barrage\n\t\t\tKeep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world.\n\t\t\tStay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert\n\t\t\tcommentary and analysis you can trust.\n\t\t
Read more »