As Russians foster Ukrainian children, Kiev protests "kidnappings."

Kyiv, Ukraine: Russian pastor Roman Vinogradov and his wife Yekaterina are the new foster parents of five children from Moscow-occupied eastern Ukraine at their residence in the heart of Siberia.
The Vinogradovs are experienced foster parents who are currently caring for sixteen children, including four of their own, and say they simply want to assist those who are “in desperate need.”

Since the invasion a year ago, Ukraine and human rights groups have condemned the forced transfer of thousands of minors into Russia or territory under Moscow’s control.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s captivity, forced adoption, and reeducation of Ukrainian children “a war crime and a crime against humanity.”

Russia asserts that it is merely accepting Ukrainian “refugee” children.

“I didn’t abduct anyone. And they do not believe that they were stolen “Vinogradov, a Protestant minister aged 41, told AFP.

The Vinogradovs, who reside in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, located more than 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) east of Moscow, reported that local authorities asked them to take in Ukrainian children after they requested another child.

“Children’s services called and asked, ‘Will you accept children from Ukraine?'” said 38-year-old Yekaterina Vinogradova.

We responded, ‘Certainly, we’ll accept them’

“To what effect does it have? Everywhere, children are children. It makes no difference which nation.”

Four Females And One Male

The couple is currently providing foster care for five Ukrainian half-siblings who arrived from Moscow six months ago: four girls and a boy aged three to twelve.

They had seven foster children already.

AFP observed the children sledding together, clearing snow from around the couple’s large home, and assisting in meal preparation.

The Vinogradovs assert that the Ukrainian children came from children’s homes in Lugansk, which has been under the control of separatists backed by Russia since 2014. They presented adoption documents issued by pro-Russian administration officials in Lugansk.

Vinogradov stated that the children do not recall their mother because her parental rights were revoked.

“Eventually, they will inevitably pose inquiries. We’ll investigate (for her). Perhaps we will organise a conference, “said his wife.

Vinogradov stated that the children were still in need of reassurance that “this is their home” as they were learning to live in a family.

When the youngest started preschool, “they were concerned that we wouldn’t pick them up,” Vinogradov said. “They inquired, “When will you arrive? Will you be coming or not?”

No party to a conflict is permitted, under international law, to temporarily evacuate minors to a foreign country unless there are compelling health or safety reasons.

‘Russians Conceal Our Offspring’

In a report published on Monday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for a “coordinated international effort” to return forcibly deported minors and urged Russia to disclose information on their whereabouts.

“Returning children unlawfully kidnapped by Russian forces should be a global priority,” said Bill Van Esveld, associate director for children’s rights at Human Rights Watch.

Daria Gerasymchuk, the Ukrainian presidential commissioner for children’s rights, stated that Russia refused to acknowledge that these children were “deportees.”

“Our children are hidden by the Russians,” she told journalists last week.

Gerasymchuk stated that Kyiv has returned 308 minors thus far, with a “large team of government officials working towards this aim.”

Ukraine possesses “many pieces of evidence from various locations” and has identified 43 shelters for minors in Russia. But children are “constantly shifted around,” she said.

We have evidence of Russia’s extensive efforts to make family reunification impossible.

Prior to the outbreak of conflict, Ukraine had 105,000 children living in institutions, the second highest figure in Europe after Russia, according to HRW.

Gerasymchuk told AFP that only 138 of the 16,000 minors deported to Russia about whom Ukraine has complete information originate from such facilities.

“To Save The Children”

“It would be inaccurate to state that only orphans are being transported to Russia,” she said.

“The Russians utilise at least five distinct deportation scenarios for minors,” she said. These measures included separating children from their parents during “filtration” at the frontier, removing them directly from their homes, and transporting them to Russian resorts for “recuperation.”

According to Gerasymchuk, Ukraine has attempted to conceal these infants from Russians.

“We attempted to place children in (foster) families so that the Russians could not identify and deport them, but we were not always successful.”

Volodymyr Sagaidak, the director of a children’s rehabilitation centre outside the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, told AFP in January that during the Russian occupation, officials questioned him about the whereabouts of the children and seized their files.

“None of the Russians expressed a desire to adopt the children. But I’d say there was a covert form of deportation: “Let’s take you on an excursion,” “Let’s take you on a vacation to Crimea,” etc “said the 61-year-old.