Russia has returned six children to Ukraine with the assistance of Qatari mediators, Russian state media reported on Wednesday.
A video shared by the state-run TASS news agency showed Qatari Ambassador in Moscow Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani greeting the children, aged six to 17, at Qatar’s embassy.
Representatives from Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights were also present, according to TASS.
Since July 2023, Qatar has facilitated the return of numerous Ukrainian children taken to Russia and occupied territories during the conflict.
Kyiv alleges that Moscow has unlawfully taken over 19,000 Ukrainian children since the full-scale invasion began, charges that Russian authorities deny.
To date, fewer than 400 children have been returned to Ukraine. Last month, Kyiv, through Qatari mediators, submitted to Moscow a list of 561 children whose return is being sought by Ukrainian authorities.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of unlawfully deporting children from Ukraine.
