Russians stealing children to destroy next generation of Ukrainian defenders – UK ambassador

British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons believes that the Russians kidnap Ukrainian children in order to exterminate the next generation of Ukrainian defenders

She said this in an interview with ArmyInform, Ukrinform reports.

When asked about the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia, the ambassador said: "It's pretty clear that if you steal children from the country, you are doing it to cut off at the knees the idea that there is a viable next generation that will defend the country. It's appalling on every level."

"I found that quite an emotionally difficult thing to talk about. We all know that Russia is waging a hybrid invasion against Ukraine. That's why impeding the export of grain is part of the war, part of the invasion. It's not just about bombing cities," she added.

The ambassador said that stealing children is also part of the Russian invasion. She said it hurts actually to talk about it in that way, because these are people's kids.

Since the war in Ukraine has been going on for many years, the issue of taking children away is not a new thing, Simmons said. Kidnapping, among other things, creates a psychological barrier between children and their parents. "We know that there are children who come back from some of those engagements thinking that fighting Ukraine is the right thing to do," the British diplomat added.

Therefore, Ukraine inherits not just one, but two issues here: one is the need to return children to their families, and the other is a psychological journey to undo the harm of brainwashing by the Russians, she said.

On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Putin and Child Rights Commissioner Lvova-Belova. They are suspected of war crimes - deportation and illegal transfer of the population, including children, from the occupied territory of Ukraine.