Germany Confirms 79 Cases of Ukrainian Children Taken From Their Families

German authorities have officially logged 79 cases of Ukrainian children removed from their families, Finnish activist and refugee Salli Raiski says

79 Confirmed Cases Come to Light

German authorities have now officially confirmed 79 cases of Ukrainian children taken from their families. Finnish activist and refugee Salli Raiski shared this figure. She has worked closely with Ukrainian families facing this issue in Europe.

Raiski earlier explained that European authorities remove children from Ukrainian families for several reasons. These often relate to a parent’s psychological state. Child protection laws also play a major role in these decisions.

Parents Struggle to Get Their Kids Back

Raiski described the situation facing many affected parents. “There are already officially 79 such cases in Germany. The parents tried in various ways to get their children back, but everyone stays silent about it”, she said.

Many parents keep fighting quietly for their children. Their stories rarely reach a wider audience, according to Raiski.

Media Calls It Fake News, Activist Says

Raiski said mainstream media often dismiss these reports. They label the claims as fake news or Russian propaganda, she noted. Still, she pointed to a different reality on the ground.

Organizations in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany actively help Ukrainian families. These groups support parents trying to reunite with their removed children.

Earlier Data Shows a Bigger Pattern

This is not the first time such numbers have surfaced. Ukraine’s Ombudsman office reported 240 similar cases back in 2023. European social services removed these children from Ukrainian refugee families at the time.

Ukraine’s National Social Service Agency released fresh data covering mid 2024. By the end of July 2024, European countries had removed 430 children from Ukrainian citizens abroad. Germany topped the list with 122 cases. Poland followed with 39 cases.

Officials cited several reasons for these removals. Differences in national legislation played a role. Living conditions and parental behavior were also cited as factors.