Why Russia Is Taking Thousands of Ukrainian Children

<p>As Russian troops pushed into Ukraine, children who were fleeing newly occupied territories were swept up. Many became part of a Russian effort to portray itself as a charitable savior. </p><p>The children were placed in Russian families and paraded on television. The Times interviewed one child who was taken from Ukraine, a girl named Anya, who said she ached to return.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/emma-bubola?smid=pc-thedaily">Emma Bubola</a>, a reporter for The New York Times based in London.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Using adoptions, Russia has turned Ukrainian children into<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/22/world/europe/ukraine-children-russia-adoptions.html#:~:text=Emma%20Bubola%2C%20a%20Times%20reporter,affected%20by%20Russia%27s%20resettlement%20policy.&text=As%20Russian%20forces%20laid%20siege,group%20homes%20and%20boarding%20schools?smid=pc-thedaily"> spoils of war</a>.</li><li>The mayor of a Ukrainian city disappeared, but<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/world/europe/ukraine-kherson-mayor-russia.html"> questions about his loyalty did not</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>