Group of abducted children deported to Russia may return to Ukraine before Christmas holidays – Qatar PM

Qatar is in talks with Russia about the return of Ukrainian children abducted during the war.

Prime Minister of Qatar Jassim Al Thani stated this in an interview with CBS News, Rubryka reports.

Responding to the journalist's question about whether there was hope to bring more Ukrainian children home soon, Al Thani mentioned that efforts were ongoing. Qatar is using communication channels and relations it has with Russia for this purpose.

"Qatar has been mediating in different conflicts that [are] not only exclusive to the region. But even beyond that. And this is something that's been in the foundation of the country's foreign policy," said the prime minister of Qatar. "We carried out this role based on the request at the beginning, from the Ukrainians, in our constant exchange and communication with them on how we are able to help. We used the channels of communication and the relationship that we have with Russia to secure those four kids. These efforts have been ongoing and still continuing. We are also hoping for another group to come back to their families before the holidays, hopefully."

However, he did not specify which group of Ukrainian children is being referred to and how many of them can be brought back.

"Until now, the numbers are not clear yet, so I won't disclose it until we have, you know, this solidified and finalized," Al Thani added.

Qatar's role in the return of Ukrainian children

Earlier, the Ukrainian human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that Qatar was ready to join as a mediator in returning Ukrainian civilian hostages who were deported to Russia or are in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

In October, it became known that Qatar facilitated the return of four Ukrainian children from Russia.

On November 19, it was reported that 17-year-old Bohdan Yermokhin, who was deported from Mariupol to Russia and later received a military draft notice in Russia, returned to Ukraine. Lubinets announced that Qatar and UNICEF acted as intermediaries in Yermokhin's return.

What we know about the deportation of Ukrainian children

According to official data from the Ukrainian authorities, from February 24, 2022, to Russia, 19,546 children were abducted from Ukraine. So far, 386 children have been successfully returned to Ukraine.

Moreover, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has affected all 7.5 million Ukrainian children, according to Ukrainian Ambassador Serhii Kyslytsia at the UN Security Council.

As Rubryka reported, the Ukrainian authorities have documented the presence of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia in 57 regions of Russia.

Currently, there are about 11,000 Ukrainian children in Russian "re-education camps."

After the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova and Russian President Putin, the Russian authorities changed their tactics in the deportation of Ukrainian children. Representatives of Russia began using new definitions in official documents to avoid accusations of kidnapping.