Russia Denies Allegations Of Kidnapping 20,000 Ukrainian Children.
Moscow has firmly denied accusations that it kidnapped 20,000 Ukrainian children, labelling the claims as “fabricated propaganda” orchestrated by the Kyiv government. The allegation, which has stirred international controversy, has been a point of contention amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova addressed the claims, asserting, “As we can see, there are no 20,000 supposedly abducted children — as the Kyiv regime previously claimed.” She described the accusation as “a lie on the level of Bucha,” referring to earlier disputed claims about Russian actions in Ukraine. According to posts on X, Zakharova highlighted that Ukraine provided Russia with a list of just 339 children during talks in Istanbul, a figure far below the 20,000 claimed, suggesting no evidence of abductions exists.
Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, echoed this stance, dismissing the allegations as exaggerated and accusing Ukraine of “throwing around crazy numbers” for political gain. “We will return everyone. There is no kidnapping. Russian soldiers saved them,” Medinsky stated, claiming that children were rescued, not abducted, by Russian forces.
However, the claims remain highly disputed. A post on X from earlier this year cited a report by The Mirror, stating that the Russian Federation had kidnapped at least 20,000 Ukrainian children, according to Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers. The post also noted that a Yale University team, previously involved in helping repatriate these children, lost funding from an efficiency department linked to Elon Musk.
The conflicting narratives have fuelled debate, with some X users and outlets aligned with Russia calling the accusations a deliberate stunt by Kyiv, while others point to Ukrainian and Western reports as evidence of systematic abductions.
International observers have yet to independently verify either side’s claims, and the true number of children affected—whether rescued, relocated, or abducted—remains unclear. The issue continues to draw attention as both nations trade accusations amid a broader war of information and geopolitics.
This story is developing, and further investigation is needed to establish the facts. The international community remains watchful as efforts to address the welfare and whereabouts of children caught in the conflict persist.