Russia handed over five children to relatives in Ukraine through the mediation of Qatar

Russia, with the mediation of Qatar, handed over five children to their relatives living in Ukraine. This was announced on March 27 by Maria Lvova-Belova, the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights.

"We are helping to reunite five children - two girls and three boys aged 11 to 17 — with their relatives, mostly moms and dads living in Ukraine," the press service quoted her as saying.

All but one child lived in Russia with other relatives, mostly grandmothers, but they themselves wanted to return to their loved ones in Ukraine. Among these children was one pupil of an orphanage, he ended up there on his own because of abuse from his father, and in Ukraine he will be reunited with his mother.

"Thank you for helping the state of Qatar in this process — they take care of negotiations with the Ukrainian side, transportation and other expenses, escorting children and their loved ones," Lvova-Belova said.

Earlier, on February 13, through the mediation of Qatar, eight more children left for relatives in Ukraine. It was clarified that most of the children lived with their grandmothers, and now they are going to their parents. The next day, two sisters returned to Russia from Ukraine.