240 cases of social services removing children from refugees from Ukraine were recorded in European countries

Iryna Suslova, a representative of the Ombudsman for Children, Family, Youth and Sports, said that due to differences in legislation in European countries, there are cases of children being taken away from the people with whom they are abroad. 

"Due to differences in legislation in European countries, there are cases of children being taken away from the people they are staying with. As of now, 240 such cases have been recorded," she said.

According to her, these can be stories where the mother stayed in Ukraine and sent the child with their grandmother, who has no power of attorney to represent them and is not considered a relative of the child under European law. Therefore, social services can involve the police and remove the child from the family.

"This is a shortcoming on the part of Ukraine. Because we had to inform people, to say: Folks, there is a law that states that, for example, in Germany, you have to do these procedures. Or that a person who has reached the age of 65 cannot be a guardian in Italy or France," said Iryna Suslova.

The Ombudsman's Office is working with international organisations to resolve this issue and provide a lawyer and an interpreter for those in this situation. 

"Relatives should definitely contact the consular department and inform them. Because it is the consuls who carry out the official representation of Ukraine abroad," said the Ombudsman's representative.