A UN official stated Tuesday that no child from Ukraine should ever be adopted in Russia. However, several thousand of these children are believed to have been transferred to this country. Since the February 24 Russian invasion.
Afshan Khan (Director UNICEF) Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia stated that "we always insist that no child should be offered for adoption in a conflict." The UN supports "the return of the children to their families" and said this at a press conference. The family must agree to the relocation of a child.
She reaffirmed, particularly to the Russian Federation that adoption should not be done immediately following a 'humanitarian emergency' as children who are separated from their families then 'cannot consider orphans'.
Afshan Khan said that the Russian children were being sent to Russia as they are in close contact with mediators and networks. He could not give numbers.
The official was asked if UNICEF had access the Russian children. He replied "No." "We don't have access to children outside the Russian Federation borders." She said that this is something that should be done in accordance with the Russian Federation's government, upon its request.
In March, the UN expressed concern about forced adoption of Ukrainian children. This included those who were living in institutions or board schools in the east, where they are often located, but not necessarily orphans or disabled.
