Ukrainian Woman Detained in Astana at Russia’s Request

Ukrainian citizen Lyubov Rozhanska has been detained at Astana airport at Russia’s request in connection with a criminal case over an alleged attempt to abduct a child, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported. She had flown from Istanbul to collect her grandson. Ukraine has called for her release and opposed her possible transfer to Russia. Rozhanska was detained on October 1 while passing through border control. She is currently being held in a pretrial detention facility in Astana, her Kazakhstan-based lawyer Riza Nurbayeva told DW. A court is expected to consider whether she should remain in custody. According to Nurbayeva and Russian lawyer Alexei Pryanishnikov, the criminal case against Rozhanska concerns her grandson, who was born in 2018. Ukraine’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, Viktor Maiko, described the actions of the Russian security services as an “outright provocation.” “The embassy is already working with our Kazakh colleagues to secure Ms. Rozhanska’s release as quickly as possible. We categorically oppose the unfounded demands of the Federal Security Service to deport her to Russia, where there is a real threat to her health and life,” Maiko said in a statement issued by the Ukrainian Embassy in Kazakhstan on October 2. The Russian authorities have not publicly responded to the ambassador’s statement. The case stems from a dispute over where the child should live. In 2021, his mother, Alla Andreeva, traveled with him from Odesa to Russia’s Kaliningrad region. In 2022, they obtained Russian citizenship. In March 2025, Ukraine’s Supreme Court ruled that the boy should live with his father in Odesa. In the summer of 2026, according to the defense, relatives of the mother’s second husband offered to hand the child over to his father and grandmother. A meeting was arranged in Astana, where Rozhanska traveled from Turkey. By then, Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, was already investigating a criminal case against her, opened in 2023, according to Nurbayeva. By August 27, the Central District Court of Kaliningrad had authorized Rozhanska’s detention. Nurbayeva said Rozhanska was unaware of the criminal proceedings and had never previously traveled to Russia. The defense believes the circumstances surrounding the trip to Kazakhstan were deliberately arranged to facilitate Rozhanska’s detention. There has been no confirmation of this account from the authorities in Kazakhstan or Russia. Maiko linked the case to the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. This case concerns a child whose mother took him to Russia in 2021, before the full-scale invasion. Moscow denies abducting children and says they were moved from combat zones for their safety.

Ukrainian Children Arrive in Uzbekistan for Rest and Recovery

Just ahead of Eid al-Adha, a group of Ukrainian children have arrived in Tashkent for a 12-day program of rest and psychological rehabilitation. The Ukrainian Embassy in Uzbekistan reported that the visit was fully organized and funded by the Uzbek government. The children, who come from war-affected regions including Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, and Kyiv, received a warm welcome upon arrival at Tashkent International Airport. From there, they traveled to a mountain camp nestled in a valley near the Tien Shan range. According to the embassy, the initiative was launched at the request of the Ukrainian side and is intended to help the children recover emotionally from the ongoing trauma of air raid sirens and missile strikes. The camp offers a structured program of daily themed events, such as “National Values Day” and “Sports and Health Day,” along with creative competitions and excursions. Evenings are reserved for social gatherings. Ukrainian adults are present to supervise the children throughout their stay. Nearly all major ministries and government agencies in Uzbekistan are participating in the effort, demonstrating strong coordination and compassion. The Ukrainian Embassy emphasized that the initiative reflects Uzbekistan’s genuine interest in supporting Ukrainian children during this difficult period. The program aims not only to provide physical and emotional relief, but also to express solidarity and goodwill from the Uzbek people. Uzbekistan previously provided similar humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, evacuating 100 injured women and children, along with their guardians, from Rafah for medical treatment and care. Uzbekistan’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine has been cautious yet distinct, reflecting its careful balancing act in international diplomacy. Tashkent has refrained from openly condemning Moscow, a key economic and regional partner, but has also demonstrated a firm commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within the framework of its foreign policy principles. Uzbekistan has supported UN General Assembly resolutions calling for an end to the conflict, signaling alignment with global norms, while urging a peaceful resolution through dialogue. Officials have consistently avoided taking sides but have voiced concerns about the war’s human cost and economic repercussions. Beyond formal diplomatic statements, Uzbekistan’s humanitarian actions have highlighted its concern for those impacted by the war. The government’s decision to host Ukrainian children for rehabilitation reflects its broader efforts to provide tangible support to civilians in crisis zones.