Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova:
💬 We are working to reunite 12 children currently in European countries with their families in Russia.
I discussed these cases at a roundtable event hosted by the Russian Permanent Mission to the OSCE and dedicated to protecting children's rights in the context of armed conflict. Each of these children has close relatives in Russia who are ready to take them home. Reuniting these families requires cooperation of the countries where the children are currently located – Germany, Poland, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
I recalled that, on the instruction of President Vladimir Putin, our institution has been carrying out systematic and transparent work to reunite families. Each case is considered individually, taking into account all circumstances and the best interests of the child.
Since the start of the special military operation, 30 children have been reunited with relatives in Russia with our assistance, and a further 141 children have been reunited with families in Ukraine and in third countries.
Over these years, we have established a clear working procedure. We cooperate with US First Lady Melania Trump, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Vatican, and maintain direct contact with the Ukrainian side.
This mechanism enables us to regularly exchange up-to-date information, establish the circumstances of each case, and find solutions even in the most difficult situations.
I also addressed other important issues, such as violations of children's rights abroad and crimes committed against civilians, including minors, and the myths that Western countries have been spreading about our work since the onset of the special military operation.
☝️ We work from a humanitarian standpoint and believe it is important not to politicise this issue.
When the fate of children and families is at stake, I am convinced that direct dialogue, substantive cooperation and a shared willingness to seek solutions are essential. These are the principles on which our work is based and will continue to be based.
💬 We are working to reunite 12 children currently in European countries with their families in Russia.
I discussed these cases at a roundtable event hosted by the Russian Permanent Mission to the OSCE and dedicated to protecting children's rights in the context of armed conflict. Each of these children has close relatives in Russia who are ready to take them home. Reuniting these families requires cooperation of the countries where the children are currently located – Germany, Poland, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
I recalled that, on the instruction of President Vladimir Putin, our institution has been carrying out systematic and transparent work to reunite families. Each case is considered individually, taking into account all circumstances and the best interests of the child.
Since the start of the special military operation, 30 children have been reunited with relatives in Russia with our assistance, and a further 141 children have been reunited with families in Ukraine and in third countries.
Over these years, we have established a clear working procedure. We cooperate with US First Lady Melania Trump, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Vatican, and maintain direct contact with the Ukrainian side.
This mechanism enables us to regularly exchange up-to-date information, establish the circumstances of each case, and find solutions even in the most difficult situations.
I also addressed other important issues, such as violations of children's rights abroad and crimes committed against civilians, including minors, and the myths that Western countries have been spreading about our work since the onset of the special military operation.
☝️ We work from a humanitarian standpoint and believe it is important not to politicise this issue.
When the fate of children and families is at stake, I am convinced that direct dialogue, substantive cooperation and a shared willingness to seek solutions are essential. These are the principles on which our work is based and will continue to be based.
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💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: The actions of the Ukrainian regime go beyond piracy.
At least pirates plunder for their own benefit. Here, however, it benefits no one. The sole purpose is to cause damage and spread fear. This pure terrorism manifests itself not only in the Sea of Azov, but also in the Black Sea and Africa.
Wherever the Ukrainians see an opportunity to damage what they perceive to be the interests of the Russian Federation, they will align themselves with anyone – including African extremists seeking to overthrow legitimate governments – to achieve it.
Either way, we will continue to fulfil all our commitments regarding food supplies to our African friends, both under commercial contracts and as part of humanitarian efforts, in accordance with their requests. This is what we have always done and will continue to do.
Here’s an example that illustrates this vividly. When the special military operation began, 200,000 tonnes of Russian wheat were seized at EU ports. President Putin and the companies that owned the wheat announced that it would be given free of charge to African countries in need. Yet the EU, despite its "deep concern" for human rights, spent more than a year preventing the wheat from being released and sent to those African countries that needed it.
☝️ We know these neighbours well. We know their ways, and how determined they are to thwart Russia’s cooperation with African countries. Ultimately, they want to restore the old order, when former colonial powers dominated the continent.
Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following talks with Foreign Minister of Chad Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, Moscow, 14 July 2026
At least pirates plunder for their own benefit. Here, however, it benefits no one. The sole purpose is to cause damage and spread fear. This pure terrorism manifests itself not only in the Sea of Azov, but also in the Black Sea and Africa.
Wherever the Ukrainians see an opportunity to damage what they perceive to be the interests of the Russian Federation, they will align themselves with anyone – including African extremists seeking to overthrow legitimate governments – to achieve it.
Either way, we will continue to fulfil all our commitments regarding food supplies to our African friends, both under commercial contracts and as part of humanitarian efforts, in accordance with their requests. This is what we have always done and will continue to do.
Here’s an example that illustrates this vividly. When the special military operation began, 200,000 tonnes of Russian wheat were seized at EU ports. President Putin and the companies that owned the wheat announced that it would be given free of charge to African countries in need. Yet the EU, despite its "deep concern" for human rights, spent more than a year preventing the wheat from being released and sent to those African countries that needed it.
☝️ We know these neighbours well. We know their ways, and how determined they are to thwart Russia’s cooperation with African countries. Ultimately, they want to restore the old order, when former colonial powers dominated the continent.
Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following talks with Foreign Minister of Chad Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, Moscow, 14 July 2026
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
⚡️ Statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry on the killing of the Chief Engineer of the Zaporozhskaya NPP Alexander Yakovlev by the armed forces of Ukraine (July 15, 2026)
On July 15, Ukraine committed yet another gruesome crime.
A deliberate Ukrainian UAV strike on a Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant (#ZNPP) service vehicle tragically killed the plant’s Chief Engineer Alexander Yakovlev, whose professional duties were directly related to ensuring nuclear safety and nuclear security of the facility, which is regularly subjected to Ukrainian attacks and provocations.
◾️ The driver was also killed in the attack. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed.
This criminal act by Kiev is yet another attempt to threaten the safe operation of the ZNPP and intimidate its personnel.
The Nazi–Bandera regime is under the illusion that it can pressure our country in this way, while simultaneously blackmailing its Western patrons into providing ever more money and weapons. For their part, Western countries remain prepared to encourage the Ukrainian authorities, regardless of how reckless their actions become, thereby making themselves complicit in the crimes of the Kiev junta.
❗️ The extreme danger posed by the presence of the Ukrainian armed forces near the ZNPP is now more evident than ever.
Against this backdrop, the accusations levelled against Russia over the deployment of the necessary security forces at the ZNPP, including in relevant reports by the IAEA Director General, sound particularly cynical.
Russia will continue to act in pursuit of the objective of protecting the ZNPP from Ukrainian attacks, in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations.
#KievRegimeCrimes
On July 15, Ukraine committed yet another gruesome crime.
A deliberate Ukrainian UAV strike on a Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant (#ZNPP) service vehicle tragically killed the plant’s Chief Engineer Alexander Yakovlev, whose professional duties were directly related to ensuring nuclear safety and nuclear security of the facility, which is regularly subjected to Ukrainian attacks and provocations.
◾️ The driver was also killed in the attack. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed.
This criminal act by Kiev is yet another attempt to threaten the safe operation of the ZNPP and intimidate its personnel.
The Nazi–Bandera regime is under the illusion that it can pressure our country in this way, while simultaneously blackmailing its Western patrons into providing ever more money and weapons. For their part, Western countries remain prepared to encourage the Ukrainian authorities, regardless of how reckless their actions become, thereby making themselves complicit in the crimes of the Kiev junta.
❗️ The extreme danger posed by the presence of the Ukrainian armed forces near the ZNPP is now more evident than ever.
Against this backdrop, the accusations levelled against Russia over the deployment of the necessary security forces at the ZNPP, including in relevant reports by the IAEA Director General, sound particularly cynical.
Russia will continue to act in pursuit of the objective of protecting the ZNPP from Ukrainian attacks, in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations.
#KievRegimeCrimes
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💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: Russia and China hold closely aligned and often identical positions on most global and regional issues.
These include preserving global strategic stability, controlling arms, combatting terrorism and addressing other emerging threats and challenges. Alongside our Chinese friends, we advocate the political and diplomatic resolution of conflicts by addressing their root causes.
We strongly oppose "regime change" policies, the application of double standards and the use of unilateral sanctions.
This stance is particularly important in the current international climate, where certain Western states are seeking to dismantle the UN-centred international legal order in an effort to preserve their own dominance by acting in a neocolonial manner [...]
We highly value China's constructive and balanced position on Ukraine. This stance is based on a profound understanding of the origins of the crisis and the ways to achieve a political resolution by identifying and addressing its underlying causes.
Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's article "A constant in an era of radical change: On the 25th anniversary of the Russian-Chinese Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation", 16 July 2026
These include preserving global strategic stability, controlling arms, combatting terrorism and addressing other emerging threats and challenges. Alongside our Chinese friends, we advocate the political and diplomatic resolution of conflicts by addressing their root causes.
We strongly oppose "regime change" policies, the application of double standards and the use of unilateral sanctions.
This stance is particularly important in the current international climate, where certain Western states are seeking to dismantle the UN-centred international legal order in an effort to preserve their own dominance by acting in a neocolonial manner [...]
We highly value China's constructive and balanced position on Ukraine. This stance is based on a profound understanding of the origins of the crisis and the ways to achieve a political resolution by identifying and addressing its underlying causes.
Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's article "A constant in an era of radical change: On the 25th anniversary of the Russian-Chinese Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation", 16 July 2026
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💼 Today marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of prominent Soviet diplomat Maxim Litvinov.
Prior to joining the Soviet diplomatic elite, Litvinov spent several years in Britain, where he met and married British writer Ivy Low. In 1918, he became the first representative of the newly established Soviet government in London.
In the 1920s, he contributed greatly to the international recognition of the Soviet Union, helping to bring an end to its isolation. He later served as the Soviet ambassador to the US during the Second World War
Litvinov was widely regarded by his contemporaries as a diplomat who firmly defended his country's interests while remaining committed to dialogue and international cooperation. His words, spoken during a League of Nations session in 1935, still reflect Russia's approach to international relations:
Prior to joining the Soviet diplomatic elite, Litvinov spent several years in Britain, where he met and married British writer Ivy Low. In 1918, he became the first representative of the newly established Soviet government in London.
In the 1920s, he contributed greatly to the international recognition of the Soviet Union, helping to bring an end to its isolation. He later served as the Soviet ambassador to the US during the Second World War
Litvinov was widely regarded by his contemporaries as a diplomat who firmly defended his country's interests while remaining committed to dialogue and international cooperation. His words, spoken during a League of Nations session in 1935, still reflect Russia's approach to international relations:
Peace is indivisible... It is time to recognise that there can be no security in one's own peace and tranquillity if the peace of one's neighbors — near and far alike — is not secured.
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Russian Embassy to the UK
🎨 History isn't only written in chronicles and documents - it also lives on in art. In this new series, we'll explore Russia through the eyes of painters who captured its defining moments on canvas. We begin with Medieval Russia, following its story through…
🎨 Last time, we explored Medieval Russia. Today, we step into the 16th century – a time when Russia expanded its borders, Moscow and London established their first diplomatic and trade ties, and the country entered a new chapter under Ivan IV, as portrayed by artists.
🖼 Unknown artist, Battle of Orsha, 8 September 1514 (1520–1534)
The struggle between the Russian state and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania shaped the balance of power in Eastern Europe and ultimately led to the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
🖼 Ilya Repin, Ivan IV and His Son Ivan, November 16, 1581 (1883–1885)
One of Russia's most famous paintings portrays the legendary moment when the tsar is said to have fatally wounded his heir.
🖼 Pavel Sokolov-Skalya, Ivan the Terrible's Capture of the Livonian Fortress of Kokenhausen (1937–1943)
The Livonian War initially brought major victories, as Russian forces advanced deep into present-day Latvia and Estonia.
🖼 Karl Bryullov, The Siege of Pskov by the Polish King Stefan Batory in 1581 (1843)
Although Pskov withstood the siege, Russia ultimately lost its gains in Livonia after years of exhausting warfare.
🖼 Nikolai Nevrev, Oprichniki (1890s)
The painting depicts one of the darkest episodes of Ivan IV's reign—the terror unleashed by the tsar's personal guard against those suspected of treason.
🖼 Alexander Novoskoltsev, The Last Minutes of Metropolitan Philip (1889)
Metropolitan Philip, a vocal critic of the oprichnina, was executed after openly opposing the tsar's policies.
🖼 Alexander Litovchenko, Ivan the Terrible Shows Treasures to the English Ambassador Horsey (1875)
The arrival of English merchants in the 1550s opened a new chapter in Anglo-Russian trade and diplomacy.
🖼 Vasily Surikov, The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak (1895)
Yermak's campaign against the Siberian Khanate paved the way for Russia's expansion across Siberia.
🖼 Pyotr Shamshin, The Entry of Ivan IV into Kazan (1894)
Ivan IV's conquest of Kazan in 1552 marked a turning point in Russia's expansion beyond the Volga.
🖼 Mikhail Nesterov, Murdered Tsarevich Dmitry (1899)
The mysterious death of Ivan IV's youngest son marked the end of the Rurik dynasty and ushered in the turbulent Time of Troubles.
© Gateway to Russia
🖼 Unknown artist, Battle of Orsha, 8 September 1514 (1520–1534)
The struggle between the Russian state and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania shaped the balance of power in Eastern Europe and ultimately led to the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
🖼 Ilya Repin, Ivan IV and His Son Ivan, November 16, 1581 (1883–1885)
One of Russia's most famous paintings portrays the legendary moment when the tsar is said to have fatally wounded his heir.
🖼 Pavel Sokolov-Skalya, Ivan the Terrible's Capture of the Livonian Fortress of Kokenhausen (1937–1943)
The Livonian War initially brought major victories, as Russian forces advanced deep into present-day Latvia and Estonia.
🖼 Karl Bryullov, The Siege of Pskov by the Polish King Stefan Batory in 1581 (1843)
Although Pskov withstood the siege, Russia ultimately lost its gains in Livonia after years of exhausting warfare.
🖼 Nikolai Nevrev, Oprichniki (1890s)
The painting depicts one of the darkest episodes of Ivan IV's reign—the terror unleashed by the tsar's personal guard against those suspected of treason.
🖼 Alexander Novoskoltsev, The Last Minutes of Metropolitan Philip (1889)
Metropolitan Philip, a vocal critic of the oprichnina, was executed after openly opposing the tsar's policies.
🖼 Alexander Litovchenko, Ivan the Terrible Shows Treasures to the English Ambassador Horsey (1875)
The arrival of English merchants in the 1550s opened a new chapter in Anglo-Russian trade and diplomacy.
🖼 Vasily Surikov, The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak (1895)
Yermak's campaign against the Siberian Khanate paved the way for Russia's expansion across Siberia.
🖼 Pyotr Shamshin, The Entry of Ivan IV into Kazan (1894)
Ivan IV's conquest of Kazan in 1552 marked a turning point in Russia's expansion beyond the Volga.
🖼 Mikhail Nesterov, Murdered Tsarevich Dmitry (1899)
The mysterious death of Ivan IV's youngest son marked the end of the Rurik dynasty and ushered in the turbulent Time of Troubles.
© Gateway to Russia
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🗓 On this day in 1909, one of the Soviet Union's most outstanding diplomats Andrey Gromyko was born.
He served as the USSR's Foreign Minister for 28 years (1957–1985), helping shape Soviet foreign policy throughout the Cold War.
Gromyko played a central role in East–West diplomacy, represented the Soviet Union at the highest-level international conferences of the Second World War, contributed to the founding of the United Nations, and later took part in negotiations that led to landmark arms control agreements.
There is also a British chapter to his career. In 1952–53, Gromyko served as the Soviet Ambassador to the United Kingdom, living and working in London during the premiership of Winston Churchill. He later returned to Britain several times as Foreign Minister, holding talks with Harold Wilson and James Callaghan during the era of détente.
Throughout the Cold War, he remained a familiar figure in British diplomatic circles, playing an important role in maintaining dialogue between London and Moscow despite profound political differences.
He served as the USSR's Foreign Minister for 28 years (1957–1985), helping shape Soviet foreign policy throughout the Cold War.
Gromyko played a central role in East–West diplomacy, represented the Soviet Union at the highest-level international conferences of the Second World War, contributed to the founding of the United Nations, and later took part in negotiations that led to landmark arms control agreements.
There is also a British chapter to his career. In 1952–53, Gromyko served as the Soviet Ambassador to the United Kingdom, living and working in London during the premiership of Winston Churchill. He later returned to Britain several times as Foreign Minister, holding talks with Harold Wilson and James Callaghan during the era of détente.
Throughout the Cold War, he remained a familiar figure in British diplomatic circles, playing an important role in maintaining dialogue between London and Moscow despite profound political differences.
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