Foreign Correspondent investigates Ukraine’s stolen children on ABC – A confronting new Foreign Correspondent investigation follows an undercover rescue network fighting to return Ukrainian children whom Russia took during the war.
Reporter Kathryn Diss embeds with the network for Ukraine’s Stolen Children, airing Tuesday at 8.00pm. The program follows efforts to recover children from orphanages, summer camps and care homes.
The scale of the alleged removals makes the story larger than a series of individual rescues. It is also about identity, family separation and the future of children growing up under occupation while the conflict continues.
Children moved into Russia
The program reports that Russia has taken tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. In addition, Russian adoption websites have advertised some children from Ukrainian institutions and camps.
Children who remain with families in occupied territory face another danger. As they grow older, the Russian military may conscript them and force them to fight against Ukrainians.
Inside an undercover rescue operation
Diss joins a network working covertly to locate children and bring them back to Ukraine. The investigation shows the risks involved in recovering young people from territory controlled by Russia and the practical obstacles facing families trying to reunite.
However, the episode moves beyond the broader statistics by following the rescuers. Each mission involves a child whose occupation may have changed their legal identity, education and family ties.
Olena Zelenska calls for action
Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska speaks to the program about the removal of children and calls on the international community to act against what she describes as Russia’s illegal actions.
Finally, the interview places the rescue work within Ukraine’s wider effort to document the missing children and secure their return.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT: UKRAINE’S STOLEN CHILDREN AIRS TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER AT 8.00PM ON ABC AND ABC IVIEW.
For more TV Central ABC news, head here. Watch current and past reports on the official Foreign Correspondent page on ABC iview.
