12-year-old Kira, who was abducted by Russians from Mariupol, returns to her family

12-year-old Kira Obedynska has returned to her grandfather, the girl's grandmother Svitlana informed UA:PBC.

The Russian occupiers earlier kidnapped the girl from the beleagured strategic city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast and took her to the non-government-controlled territory.

According to the grandmother, the girl and her grandfather are in Kyiv. It remains unknown where Kira was until April 26.

Russians forcibly took 12-year-old Kira out of besieged Mariupol. Teh child was orphaned in this war due to Russian aggression. Her grandfather earlier reported her disappearance.

An investigation into the abduction of a child has begun in Chernivtsi. According to the law enforcers, since the beginning of the war Kira was in Mariupol with her father — Yevhen Obedynsky, multiple champion of Ukraine in water polo. On March 17, he was killed by Russian troops. Kira lost her mother before the war.

There were attempts to evacuate the girl from the city along with other locals, but while trying to leave Kira was injured by a mine. After that, the child was abducted by representatives of the Russian armed forces and taken to occupied Donetsk.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, 217 children have died and at least 391 more have been injured.