Dr. Oleg Kozerod: “There is a moral demand in Europe for operation Kindertransport”

Many interesting events took place on the sidelines of the recent Swiss conference on Ukraine’s peaceful proposals, writes Dr. Oleg Kozerod.

Leaders of countries and public organisations unequivocally expressed their support for ending the war in Ukraine, withdrawing Russian troops from occupied territories, and halting genocidal policies against ethnic Ukrainians.

The heartfelt speech by Italian Foreign Minister Antonino Tajani stood out, inviting President Zelensky to Rome and pledging solidarity with Ukraine until the end.

The most tragic theme throughout the conference was the issue of Ukrainian children being kidnapped, with their numbers now exceeding 20,000.

Many heads of states addressed this, as did President Zelensky during his press conference.

The suffering of Ukrainian children, traded one by one like prisoners of war, is unprecedented in modern history and is only comparable to what happened to Jewish children during the Holocaust.

Unfortunately, as of today, there are no governmental or other programs from European countries comparable to the Kindertransport operation during the Holocaust.

“Today, we face a similar challenge to Kindertransport, as Dr. Oleg Kozerod so rightly describes. The war in Ukraine has left thousands of children without homes, parents, and a future. Our mission is to protect them from this horror and provide a safe environment for their growth. It is important to remember that supporting children in such conditions is not only a moral duty but also a global responsibility.

“Our mission is to initiate projects similar to Kindertransport, which will help Ukrainian children regain peace and stability in their lives,” Ukrainian businesswoman and human rights campaigner Alona Lebedieva.

Thus, the lessons of the past inspire us to achieve new milestones in our fight for a better future for every child. The global community must remain united in its efforts, as only in this way can we ensure that no child is left without protection and hope for a better life, even in the most difficult times.

The front of the Russian-Ukrainian war is advancing, with Russian forces seizing more rural communities where Ukrainian children reside.

Parents are willing to send them to safe places, but independent evacuation of children abroad and their reception by social services in European countries is difficult.

There is a moral demand in Europe for operation Kindertransport. Public and international charitable organisations do not have access to combat zones, and the liberation of children from camps in Russia seems unrealistic.

Some British organisations, such as World Jewish Relief, are assisting Ukrainian children, but there is currently no widespread public campaign in the UK regarding the rescue of children from territories seized by Russian forces.

This article originally appeared in The London Weekly.

Image: Gdansk Kindertransport memorial, by Fallaner, Wikimedia commons.

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