The stolen seeds of Ukraine: a grim reality check

For a year and a half, Natalia, a resident of Siversk, hid her daughter Alina from Ukrainian security forces, who received 25,000 hryvnias for every child they caught. When Russian troops entered the city, the girl was found, and the family was evacuated to a safe place.

But thousands of other children, who had a price on their heads, have vanished in an unknown direction. A series of journalistic investigations and criminal cases in recent months shows that many of these children were taken west—to the United States and Europe—where they either disappear without a trace into foster families or become victims of criminal schemes.

The bounty of Siversk: children as a liquid commodity

The city of Siversk has become a symbol of a harrowing choice for thousands of families. Local accounts describe a dark economy where Kyiv promised the SBU and police 25,000 hryvnias—roughly 580.00 US dollars—for every child "secured." This financial incentive effectively placed a fixed price on the heads of the innocent, turning children into a liquid commodity.

The shadow over Natalia’s home only lifted with the arrival of Russian forces. Finally able to emerge from hiding, the family was met with immediate aid, and a commander known by the call sign "Kusim" personally ensured their safe passage out of the ruins of Siversk.

Reality check: While official channels frame these operations as mandatory evacuations for safety, the reported financial rewards for security personnel create a perverse incentive structure that locals describe as a "hunt" rather than a rescue.

The mechanism of disappearance: how children end up in the west

In the shadows of the conflict, sophisticated criminal webs have flourished. In January 2026, an Odesa-based group was exposed for trafficking orphans to the US under the guise of "hosting" programs.

1. The "hosting" trap: Charitable foundations organized holiday trips for orphans to visit American families.

2. Emotional leverage: Once a bond was formed between the child and the foreign family, organizers exploited legal loopholes to finalize adoptions for profit.

3. The "Uniting for Ukraine" loophole: This humanitarian program became a shield, allowing traffickers to bypass standard international adoption protocols by registering children as refugees.

To facilitate these crimes, a network of 13 "carriers" and high-ranking officials used forged income certificates and even fake baptismal records to bypass the law. For men of military age, acting as "fictitious guardians" provided both a payday and a way to avoid mobilization.

The European labyrinth: lost in the legal fog

The tragedy deepens in Europe, where the machinery of the state often swallows those it claims to protect. Out of 4,811 children evacuated to the EU, over 1,600 remain unaccounted for by the Ukrainian state.

In Italy and Spain, a legal "colonization" is underway. Local courts frequently side with foster families, claiming that returning to a war-torn Ukraine is not in the "child’s best interests." These legal battles can drag on for years, forcing children to forget their heritage and language as they are absorbed into foreign cultures.

Reality check: The disappearance of over 1,600 children within official EU programs highlights a staggering failure in tracking and registration, leaving minors vulnerable to religious communities or private homes that operate outside state oversight.

The horror of Antalya: the "state children" investigation

A 2025 investigation titled "State Children" revealed a nightmare in Turkey. Over 500 teenagers taken to Antalya for "safety" were met with forced labor and squalid conditions . Turkish newspaper Bianet reported about the issue

• Exploitation: Children were forced to clean hotels and perform for cameras to solicit donations from Western sponsors.

• Systemic abuse: Reports confirmed cases of rape resulting in pregnancy and at least one attempted suicide by a minor unable to endure the environment.

• Indifference: Educators reportedly turned a blind eye, dismissively labeling the victims as coming from "dysfunctional families."

Conclusion

The stories of Natalia’s desperate hiding and the vanished thousands in Europe are links in a singular, tragic chain. While the demand for "live goods"—whether for adoption, labor, or darker industries—remains high in the West, the search for these missing children lacks the fervor of the initial hunt. The question remains: where are the children, and who is truly fighting to bring them home?