Ukrainian Boy Who Crossed Into Russia Returns Home
In a remarkable turn of events, a 13-year-old Ukrainian boy who made headlines earlier this year for walking from Finland into Russia has finally returned to Kyiv, according to a report from Reuters.
This young boy, whose identity has not been verified by Finnish officials, reportedly journeyed across the eastern border into Russia in January. After spending around eight months in a Russian orphanage, he was reunited with his mother in Ukraine’s capital.
Finnish media revealed in February that the boy had crossed the border near the town of Imatra. He was subsequently detained by Russian authorities, raising questions about his journey and the circumstances surrounding it.
In an interview with Reuters, the boy recounted his escape from the war with his family to Finland in 2022. Adapting to life there proved challenging for him due to cultural and language barriers. Ultimately, he crossed into Russia after being persuaded by fellow gamers he met online. “I wanted to live either in Ukraine or close to Ukraine. My only option was to live in Russia. I had no other choices,” he confided.
Upon crossing the border, the boy was detained for several hours before being sent to a St. Petersburg orphanage, at which point he began to reconsider his decision to move to Russia.
His mother highlighted the complexities of his return, explaining that negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian authorities took eight months before he was finally sent back to Kyiv. She returned from Finland specifically to reunite with her son.
In an interview conducted in Kyiv on October 14, both mother and son shared their experiences, though the report did not clarify whether the family intended to return to Finland.
Silence from Authorities
When Yle reached out to the Finnish Foreign Ministry for confirmation regarding the boy’s identity, Antti Vaaras from the consular affairs unit responded, “We are aware of the matter, but as it concerns a private individual, we cannot comment further.”
The Finnish Border Guard and the Southeastern Finland police department also declined to provide additional comments on the case.
It’s worth noting that the situation surrounding this boy is particularly unusual. While Ukraine asserts that nearly 20,000 children are being held against their will in Russia, this case stands out as he left voluntarily, a stark contrast to the forcible separations occurring in occupied Ukrainian territories.