Oksana Stetsenko's tearful reunion with her son Nikita marks the end of a harrowing journey that began when the Russian military abducted 13 children from a boarding school in Kupyansk, Ukraine. While the Russian authorities claimed they were taken to a "safe place," Stetsenko's anguish grew as months passed with no information. However, with the help of an NGO, she embarked on a courageous 3,000-mile journey into Russia to rescue her son. According to NBC, their emotional reunion highlights the larger issue of Russia's systematic effort to erase Ukrainian identity, with over 200,000 children reportedly deported since the invasion. Ukrainian officials fear the indoctrination these children undergo under Russian forces.
The Abduction and Separation
On September 8, Russian troops forcibly took Nikita and his classmates from the Kupyansk Special School, relocating them to Svatove, a Russian-occupied town. Subsequently, the children were transferred to the Perevalsk Special Correctional Boarding School, situated deeper within the occupied region. Oksana Stetsenko was devastated during this time, unaware of her son's whereabouts and longing for his safe return. The separation was emotionally grueling, with the front line acting as a barrier between mother and child.
Determined to bring Nikita back home, Stetsenko received assistance from the NGO Save Ukraine. They organized and funded her daring journey. Crossing borders, including Poland and Belarus, Stetsenko faced immense anxiety and fear. With her newly acquired Ukrainian passport, she embarked on her second-ever flight, eventually reaching Russia. The Russian TV channel NTV picked up her story, capturing the reunion between Stetsenko and Nikita. Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Presidential Commissioner for Child Rights, shared the touching moment on Telegram, emphasizing their perspective as "saviors" of the children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials highlight Russia's deliberate attempt to erase Ukrainian identity through deportation and indoctrination. Children like Nikita are subjected to a Russian curriculum and taught to deny their Ukrainian heritage. The Ukrainian government estimates that up to 300,000 children have been deported to Russia or Russian-occupied territories. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman for human rights, condemns this strategy, stating that Russian forces aim to convince these children that they were never Ukrainian.
The Battle for Reunification
The process of reuniting abducted children with their families is a challenging and costly endeavor. The NGO Save Ukraine actively works to bring these children back, despite the Russian government's resistance. Mykola Kuleba, CEO of Save Ukraine, dismisses Russia's claims of willingly returning children, emphasizing that they are actively reclaiming Ukrainian children themselves. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for both Maria Lvova-Belova and President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
While Stetsenko successfully rescued her son, the larger battle to reunite Ukrainian children continues. Ukrainian officials fear that young children will become absorbed into the Russian foster care and orphanage systems, potentially forgetting their Ukrainian roots. Each reunion serves as evidence of war crimes for the International Criminal Court, holding Russia accountable for its actions. The Ukrainian government remains steadfast in its commitment to bringing all abducted children back to their homeland and preserving their true identity.
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