Ukrainian Survivors Recount Ordeal of Russian Abduction and Forced Deportation
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Two young Ukrainians, formerly abducted by Russia as children, shared their harrowing experiences in Madrid to prevent similar tragedies.
- Ukraine reports that over 20,000 children have been forcibly deported to Russia or occupied territories since the 2022 invasion, with 700 reportedly killed.
- The testimonies highlight Russia's alleged policy of 'Russification,' including changing children's names and nationalities, and the psychological trauma of displacement and forced assimilation.
The testimonies of two young Ukrainian survivors, Iván Matkovsy and Iván Sarancha, shared in Madrid, offer a deeply personal and harrowing account of Russia's alleged war crimes against Ukrainian children. Their courage in recounting their experiences, having been abducted as children and forcibly taken to Russia, serves as a powerful indictment of the systematic policy Ukraine claims Russia is pursuing: the forced deportation and 'Russification' of its youth. This event, organized by the Ukrainian Embassy in Spain, brings the human cost of the conflict directly to the heart of European political discourse.
The soldiers pointed their weapons at us when we tried to flee.
Ukraine's official figures, stating that over 20,000 children have been forcibly deported and 700 killed, paint a grim picture of a deliberate campaign targeting the nation's future. The young survivors' stories corroborate these claims, detailing the psychological manipulation, the attempts to erase their Ukrainian identity by changing names and nationalities, and the constant fear under which they lived. Matkovsy's experience of seeking refuge in the Mariupol theater before its destruction and Sarancha's journey of discovering a different narrative online before escaping underscore the diverse and traumatic paths these children endure.
I saw the Russians destroy my hometown.
From our perspective as a Ukrainian publication, these testimonies are not just individual stories; they are representative of a national tragedy. They underscore the critical importance of international solidarity and justice. The presence of Ukrainian officials, including Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor and Commissioner for Children's Rights, and Ambassador Yuliia Sokolovska, alongside Spanish Senate President Pedro Rollán, signifies the global attention this issue commands. Rollán's statement, equating the return of these children to a "victory of justice over barbarism," resonates deeply with our national sentiment.
They change the names and nationality of the children with the aim of Russifying them.
While international coverage often focuses on the military aspects of the war, these personal accounts bring into sharp focus the long-term, devastating impact on Ukrainian families and society. The trauma inflicted upon these children, and the efforts to 'Russify' them, represent an attack on Ukraine's very identity. Their survival and willingness to speak out are acts of profound bravery, crucial for ensuring that such atrocities are not forgotten and that accountability is pursued. This is a story that transcends headlines; it is about the stolen childhoods and the fight for Ukraine's future.
The day the children return home will be a victory of justice over barbarism.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
