Moscow admits stealing Ukrainian children but refuses to discuss exact numbers – Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at his briefing, reported that during bilateral talks in Istanbul on June 2, 2025, the Russian delegation admitted that Russia had abducted Ukrainian children on the temporarily occupied territories, but refused to discuss the exact number.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine provided the Russian Federation with a list of almost 400 children; the Russian delegation proposed to “work something out” regarding 10 children.
The President also confirmed that during the talks, the Russians said that Ukraine should not “put on a show for bleeding-heart European old ladies with no children of their own,” regarding the return of the children.
“We told them they had stolen twenty thousand children, and they said they hadn’t stolen twenty thousand. At most, it’s a question of hundreds… I think this is an important acknowledgement. Not of the number, but of the very fact that they agree they stole children. It’s important that the fact has been recorded,” Zelesnkyy highlighted.
Previously, ZMINA reported that Ukraine demanded the return of children illegally deported by Russia.
