Eleven Ukrainian children were setting off from Russia to Ukraine to be reunited with their families in the latest transfer between the warring sides under a Qatari-mediated scheme.
The children, aged between two and 16, were hosted at the Qatari embassy in Moscow on Monday, ahead of a long journey via Belarus that should see them cross into northwestern Ukraine on Tuesday.
This latest operation includes several children with special medical needs, including two aged five and six who have chronic conditions.
Groups of children began to be transferred from Ukraine to Russia under the scheme in October. Russia says a total of 59 children have been repatriated to Ukraine through the mechanism.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of dividing families and moving children from Russian-held parts of Ukraine to Russia to brainwash them, while Moscow has said it is doing this only for their safety.—AFP
