Kyiv Press Conference: Russia’s Abduction of Children from Specialized Institutions

Last week, during one of the Emile Foundation’s missions to Ukraine, our team joined the Ukraine Crisis Media Center to host a press conference titled “Without a Trace: Russia’s Abduction and Removal of Residents of Specialized Institutions in Kherson Oblast.”

Focus on 2 specialised schools

Held on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the event highlighted the stories of two institutions in Kherson that were directly impacted by Russia’s forced removals of vulnerable children:

Oleshky Children’s Boarding School, where 105 children and young people with disabilities were abducted in 2022. Kherson Home Orphanage, where 48 young children were removed during Russia’s retreat from the region.

Emotional testimonies

We heard directly from mothers and grandmothers of abducted children, teachers from the affected institutions, representatives of the Kherson regional administration, and Emile Foundation case managers and psychologists working to reunite families and support those impacted.

We were also honored to have a video message from Oleksandra Matviichuk, Chair of the Center for Civil Liberties , 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Emile Foundation goodwill ambassador. She insisted that no credible peace agreement can ignore the plight of these children and urged the global community to prioritize their return.

The family testimonies were heartbreaking — but they were also a powerful reminder of why this work must continue. Among the immense suffering inflicted on Ukraine, the fate of thousands of forcibly removed children remains one of the most urgent humanitarian crises of this war.

We cannot allow their stories to disappear. We cannot allow them to be forgotten.

The Emile Foundation remains committed to bringing these children home and ensuring their voices — and the voices of their families — continue to be heard.

View the full press conference (English):