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Russia returns seven children to Ukraine, with mediation from Qatar

According to Russian presidential children’s rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova, most of the children lived in Russia with their families, primarily with grandmothers

MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. Russia has returned seven children to Ukraine, with mediation efforts from Qatar.

The Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Russia, Sheikh Ahmed bin Nasser Al-Thani, and Russian presidential children’s rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova participated in the family reunification ceremony at the Qatari embassy in Moscow, a TASS correspondent reported.

Qatar places great importance on humanitarian efforts, and they will continue, the ambassador said.

According to Lvova-Belova, most of the children lived in Russia with their families, primarily with grandmothers. A 16-year-old teenage boy had stayed at an orphanage in Alyoshki in the Kherson Region almost since birth, until his brother gained custody of him, she recounted. "The children have their own stories, some of them especially dramatic. The parents of a 12-year-old boy had divorced before his mother died earlier this year. The boy is now going to his father in Ukraine," Lvova-Belova said.

So far, 15 children from 10 families have reunited with their families in Russia, and 87 children have been reunited with 69 families in Ukraine and third countries with assistance from the Russian presidential children’s rights ombudswoman.