Ukrainian MFA: orphans kidnapped in Snezhnoye are brought to Rostov Region

The Russian side let armed men to illegally bring to the territory of the Russian Federation 16 orphans, Ukrainian citizens, who were kidnapped on June 12 in the city of Snezhnoye. This was announced by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). In total, 25 orphans were kidnapped. Of them, 10 orphans have already been released, and the fate of the other orphans is still unknown. This has been clarified today by the press service of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Ukrainian MFA states that no permits for the children's departure were presented and that Russia let the children to enter its territory with copies of their birth certificates.

According to the MFA, the kidnapped children were brought to the Rostov Region.

"The Russian side has grossly violated the provisions of the agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Russian Federation dated January 16, 1997, and its international obligations in the field of children's rights, in particular, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child," states the message posted in the evening of June 12 on the Ukrainian MFA's website.