SW News: Around 700,000 children have been brought into Russia from the crisis zones in Ukraine.  Grigory Karasin, head of the foreign committee in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said this on Telegram. He messaged that "in recent years, 700,000 children have found refuge with us, fleeing the bombing and shelling from the conflict areas in Ukraine."

In February 2022, Russia began a full-scale invasion of its western neighbor Ukraine. Moscow claims that the purpose of its operation for importing Ukrainian children onto Russian soil is to protect orphans and young children who have been abandoned in the war-torn area.

On the other hand, the United States and Ukraine both claim that thousands of children have been forcibly removed from their homes.
Prior to Ukraine's significant counteroffensive to retake occupied territory in the east and south in late August, the majority of people and children moved during the early months of the war.

The United States said that 260,000 children were "forcibly deported" from Russia in July 2022, whereas the Ministry of Integration of Occupied Territories of Ukraine reports that 19,492 Ukrainian children are now being considered illegally deported.

On June 27, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican's ambassador for world peace, arrived in Russia for the first time since President Vladimir Putin began his all-out assault on Ukraine in February 2022. Cardinal Zuppi also met with Maria Lvova-Belova, the Moscow-based ombudswoman for children's rights, who, along with Putin, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for her role in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.

The cardinal said he is confident that Christian love and mercy will aid in communication and understanding between people.

Since the start of the war, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia, many of whom were placed in institutions and foster homes, according to Ukrainian officials. Such deportations are acknowledged to be acts of genocide.

Pope Francis has been constantly praying for Ukrainian children living in the midst of falling bombs and warns against the threat of a nuclear apocalypse. He calls them the victims of the arrogance of the adults.