Ukrainian Minister announces return of several children illegally taken by Russia

Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk said this at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine - Ukrinform.

"We are waiting for the next children to be returned home this week. How many children for today (have been taken out - ed.)? As of June 1, there are about 20 000 children whom we have managed to register. More than 4 000 of them are orphans. These are status children without guardians who are illegally adopted and placed under the care of Russia," said Vereshchuk.

She also noted that she had the opportunity to talk to a girl who was returned. Her father and mother are military. "Her surname is Zirka, her name is Sofiyka. A little girl we managed to return from the TOT through Russia, through Taganrog and third countries," added the head of the Ukrainian Minister of Reintegration.

She once again emphasized that Ukraine prohibits Russians from adopting its children and demands that they be returned to their homeland. "We are ready to work out this mechanism together with our international partners, UNICEF, and the Pope. We are ready to work with everyone to return all our children. We prohibit taking them under guardianship," she emphasized.

As reported, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in an interview with Ukrinform that the Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories managed to return 373 children illegally taken to Russia.