The Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenko, has called for the safe return of Ukrainian children allegedly deported by Russia, detained civilians and prisoners of war (PoWs), insisting that reuniting families is critical to achieving lasting peace.
Kholostenko made the appeal amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting the plight of thousands of Ukrainians separated from their loved ones.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the ambassador said Ukrainians observe a nationwide minute of silence every morning at 9 a.m. in memory of those killed in the war.
He explained that the daily ritual honours fallen soldiers and civilians while reflecting the pain of families still waiting for missing, detained or captured relatives to return home.
“For one minute, an entire country pauses,” Kholostenko said.
He noted that loudspeakers normally used to warn residents of incoming Russian air attacks broadcast the ticking of a clock at 9 a.m., as people in offices, homes, schools, markets and on highways observe the moment of silence.
According to him, the ritual has become a symbol of national remembrance and the enduring human cost of the conflict.
The ambassador expressed particular concern over Ukrainian children whom Ukrainian authorities say were forcibly transferred or deported by Russia during the war.
He said many of the children had been separated from their families and communities, with some allegedly experiencing changes to aspects of their identity, including their language, culture and names.
Kholostenko also raised concerns about Ukrainian civilians detained in territories under Russian occupation, alleging that some had faced persecution for teaching the Ukrainian language, preserving their culture, opposing the occupation or sharing information about events they witnessed.
He said some detainees had reportedly been transferred to detention facilities in Russia, where they allegedly faced detention without due process, restricted contact with relatives and inadequate access to medical care.
The envoy further cited accounts from former detainees and reports by independent organisations alleging that Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity had been subjected to torture, sexual violence and other forms of abuse.
“These are not side effects of Russia’s war. These are repeated and well-documented violations of international law, carried out on a large scale in an attempt to break the will of the Ukrainian people,” he said.
Kholostenko stressed that the humanitarian consequences of the war should be understood through the experiences of affected individuals and families.
“Behind every such case is a human story: parents waiting for a child, a husband or wife waiting for a phone call, a family waiting for a loved one to finally return home,” he said.
He maintained that the true meaning of peace went beyond ending hostilities to include restoring family ties and helping affected communities recover.
“It is a child returned to their family. A civilian released from unlawful detention. A prisoner of war reunited with loved ones. A community given the opportunity to heal, recover and rebuild,” the ambassador said.
Seeks international cooperation
The Ukrainian envoy said the scale of the humanitarian crisis required sustained cooperation among governments, international organisations, humanitarian agencies and civil society groups.
He cited the Pathways to Peace: Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians, and Prisoners of War, held in Toronto, Canada, on September 28 and 29.
According to him, the conference brought together foreign ministers and international partners, including representatives from Canada, Norway and Ukraine, to advance efforts to secure the return, rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian children, detained civilians and prisoners of war.
The meeting built on a ministerial conference jointly hosted by Canada, Norway and Ukraine in 2024.
Kholostenko described the return of those affected by the war as both a humanitarian imperative and an important component of efforts to achieve peace.
He said restoring families and communities could help rebuild trust and create conditions for a lasting settlement.
“Every person returned reunites a family. Every family reunited strengthens a community. And every community that recovers and prospers helps rebuild Ukraine,” he said.
The ambassador added that Ukrainians continued rebuilding their communities despite the destruction caused by the war, while remembering those killed and those who remained missing or detained.
He expressed appreciation to governments, international organisations, humanitarian actors and civil society groups supporting efforts to bring Ukrainian children, civilians and prisoners of war home.
“Only through the joint and sustained efforts of the international community can we ensure the return of every deported child, every unlawfully detained civilian, and every Ukrainian prisoner of war,” Kholostenko said.
