BBC News: Being the Voice of the Ukrainian Children
📣 Russia must return Ukrainian children. Now.
August 20th, 2025
In London, Mariam Lambert spoke to BBC News about the foundation’s work and the ongoing struggle of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
❤️🩹 As discussions about land and borders continue, Mariam reminded viewers that 1.6 million children remain under occupation, exposed daily to the risk of kidnapping, illegal adoption, and even torture.
“The human dimension of this war must remain at the centre of every negotiation” she emphasised.
Mariam Lambert welcomed the leadership of First Lady Melania Trump, who addressed the issue in a recent letter to President Putin, and noted that Donald Trump placed the return of the stolen children at the top of his agenda during his most recent talks with Russian officials in Alaska.
Numbers that speak
According to Ukrainian authorities, 19,546 children have been identified as forcibly taken. Russia, meanwhile, claims to have “saved” 700,000, a figure that dangerously distorts reality and violates international norms.
A recent report by the Yale School of Public Health Humanitarian Research Lab, led by Nathaniel Raymond, revealed shocking numbers. 314 Ukrainian children were found in Russia’s official adoption database, a chilling confirmation of forced assimilation efforts.
Mariam Lambert told the BBC:
“Russia is not following the Geneva Convention. They deny access to information and refuse to transfer children to safe third countries.”
Focus on our mission
While global institutions struggle to act, the Emile Foundation continues its mission:
🙌 The Foundation is currently focused on two urgent cases:
📌Oleshky Boarding School, Kherson Oblast, where 105 children with special needs were kidnapped.
📌Kherson Home Orphanage: where 46 children aged from 17 months to 5 years were abducted. Some of them even handed over for adoption to Russian families and officials.
❤️🩹 Mariam underlined that aftercare is just as crucial as repatriation: “Bringing children home is only the first step. They need long-term psychological support and protection to truly heal.”
📺 We would like to sincerely thank BBC News. Their journalist Kasia Madera continuously ensures the voices of these children are not forgotten.