The Austrian authorities are investigating the uncoordinated sending of refugee children directly into the hands of the aggressor country.

In Austria, the officials of the Tyrol province sent two Ukrainian teenagers to Moscow without the permission of the Ukrainian authorities – supposedly their mothers were waiting for them there. This is written by the Austrian publication Der Standard.

According to available information, two young men aged 16 and 17 lived in a children’s and youth institution. In early January, the teenagers were sent to Moscow, allegedly for the purpose of family reunification.

According to journalists, an employee of the European Institute of the Ombudsman, who works in the provincial office of the Tyrolean Ombudsman, was involved in the adoption of this decision. Moreover, as it is claimed, he did not agree with his actions not only with the official representatives of Ukraine, but also with the local Austrian authorities.

“Apparently, this person was acting at the request of his fellow Russian ombudsman, who is apparently appointed by the Russian State Duma. According to him, he received information from the Russian embassy that the mothers of the young people were already in Russia and wanted their families reunited. Whether the parents remain in Russia voluntarily has yet to be determined,” the newspaper writes.

Currently, this official has been suspended from work, the legality of his actions is being checked by Austrian law enforcement officers.

Ukrainian refugees in Europe

According to UN data, by the end of 2022, about 7.4 million Ukrainians have become refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. Most of them settled in Poland and Germany.

At the same time, life in a foreign country is far from always easier than in warring Ukraine. So, for example, in Britain, every third Ukrainian refugee turned out to be actually homeless.

President Zelensky believes that the return home of millions of refugees should become one of the priorities of the Ukrainian state.