Russia deliberately prevents the return of children abducted from Ukraine: human rights defender
The actions of the Russian Federation were clearly planned and prepared even before a full-scale invasion.
We must be prepared for the fact that children abducted from Ukraine may refuse to return home. About this in interview Aksana Filipishyna, an analyst of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union, told Glavkom. She noted that the longer the children stay in Russia, the harder it is to return them.
“Every day of a child’s stay under the pressure of the information space they enter does not help these children maintain an emotional connection with Ukraine”, the analyst noted.
She emphasized that Russian propaganda is actively working to create a negative image of Ukraine among abducted children, creating feelings of hostility and fear in them before returning to their homeland.
In addition, Filipishyna noted that the legislation of Ukraine and Russia regarding foster families have many similarities: “The Russian Federation, in addition to money, provides foster families with household items – furniture, household appliances, children’s clothes, and so on.” These material goods are used to give children the impression of a better life in Russia, which further complicates their desire to return to Ukraine.
According to the human rights activist, Russia’s actions are clearly planned and began even before the full-scale invasion. She is sure that everything was planned by the Russians since 2014, when the first “trains of hope” from Crimea took echelons of Ukrainian children to the Russian hinterland and distributed them to Russian families.
“The goal is to break our children, to Russify them. And even if the Russians themselves live in difficult conditions, the state does everything possible to lure our children, because this is part of their policy and they need an image. They will use this as a card: they say, we are ready to give, but your children no longer want to”, the analyst explains.
Filipishyna also emphasized that Russia uses various methods to influence children, including psychological pressure, education in Russian schools under programs that foster loyalty to the Russian Federation, and the organization of various activities that should distract children from thoughts about Ukraine.
Finally, Filipishyna called on the Ukrainian side to make more effective decisions that would give an effective result. She emphasized the importance of international pressure on Russia and active cooperation with international organizations for the return of children.
“We must create all the conditions for returning children to feel supported and safe in their homeland”, the analyst concluded.
