BREAKING NEWS – Telegraph: Margarita Prokopenko’s legal guardian breaks silence

In September 2022, a Ukrainian baby, just 10 months old, was abducted by Russia and given a new name and passport. Today, after nearly two years of silence, her legal guardian, Darina Riepina, breaks her silence in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph podcast.
Her message is clear: this is a humanitarian crisis, not a political bargain.

⚠️ This story must be heard.

The legal guardian of a 10-month-old baby abducted by Russia and adopted by a senior Russian official breaks her silence in an exclusive Telegraph podcast.

In September 2022, baby Margarita Prokopenko was kidnapped in Ukraine and brought to Russia. Under the authority of Russian official Sergey Mironov, her name was legally changed to Marina Sergeevna Mironova and her birthplace was falsified from Kherson, Ukraine, to Podolsk near Moscow. A new Russian birth record was created — erasing her Ukrainian identity and replacing it with a fabricated one.

Now, after being silenced for two years, Darina Riepina speaks publicly for the first time. She describes the trauma of being excluded from international discussions on her own daughter, and issues urgent demands:

• ➡️ That a DNA test in a neutral third country be done, to confront Russia’s denial that Marina Mironova is in fact Margarita Prokopenko.
• ➡️ That the abduction of Ukrainian children be treated as a humanitarian crisis, not a political bargain.
• ➡️ That the United States lead the return mechanism, as Russia ignores European appeals but responds to strength.

Emile Foundation’s support on this case

For the last 15 months, the Emile Foundation has stood alongside Darina day after day, guided by clear principles: children first, not harm, and giving victims their voice back. We continue to provide humanitarian, psychological, and legal support, while ensuring her voice led international advocacy.

💔 Her testimony is heartbreaking.
⚖️ Her demand is lawful.
✊ And her voice must be heard.

The Telegraph podcast

🎧 Listen now to the exclusive The Telegraph podcast to hear Darina’s full story (starting at 21:20).
🙏 We would like to thank The Telegraph’s journalist Adélie Pojzman-Pontay, for her mindful and professional interview that finally gave space for Darina’s voice to be heard.

#ChildrenFirst #HumanitarianCrisis #UkraineChildren #DoNoHarm #BringThemHome