Russia to return five Ukrainian children separated by war

In June 2025, Russia declared its intention to return five children to Ukraine who had been separated from their families amid the ongoing conflict that erupted in February 2022. The announcement was made by Maria Lvova-Belova, the Kremlin's commissioner for children's rights, who emphasized that these children will be reunited with their families by the end of the month. These five children were part of a larger group of 339 individuals that Ukrainian officials previously submitted to Russian officials during the last peace talks in Istanbul. The return of the children comes after considerable international scrutiny over the treatment of Ukrainian children during the war, with allegations from Ukrainian officials claiming that many were abducted and taken to Russia. The situation created significant tension between the two countries, especially in light of the war crimes charges laid against Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court in 2023. Maria Lvova-Belova mentioned that the delay in returning these children was because they were completing their school year, indicating that the children were still attending classes while being offered a safe haven in Russia. She did not provide any information concerning the status of the remaining children on Ukraine's list of missing individuals, which raises ongoing concerns about the fate of those children who remain unaccounted for. In parallel, Russia is compiling a list of Russian children believed to be in Ukraine, which it intends to present to Ukrainian officials in future negotiations. This proactive approach aims to facilitate the returns of Russian children who are in EU countries and separated from their parents who have remained in Russia. However, this aspect of cooperative reunification raises questions about the sincerity of peace efforts, as accusations on both sides undermine the ongoing negotiations to end the conflict.