ADRIAN MA, HOST:
It's been four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And in that time, the Ukrainian government says thousands of children have been abducted by the Russian regime. To highlight their stories, a band called Daughters of Donbas has released an album, and NPR's Robbie Griffiths went to see them in London.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
DAUGHTERS OF DONBAS: (Singing in Ukrainian).
ROBBIE GRIFFITHS, BYLINE: On a converted cargo ship afloat on the River Thames, all-female band the Daughters of Donbas make music and send a message. These eight women sing in Ukrainian to raise awareness about children abducted by Russia during the war. Ukrainian human rights groups say almost 20,000 children, from the ages of 4 months to 17 years old, have been forcibly transferred to Russian territories, with many taken to militarized camps. Lead singer Marichka, who is herself a mother of four, says the subject, along with visits to the front lines, has inspired her to compose.
MARICHKA IHNATOWYCZ: I truly believe that music is a perfect tool to go directly from heart to heart through emotions. Sometimes words is not enough to get to the right understanding, but with words and with the music, it just perfect match.
GRIFFITHS: Marichka Ihnatowycz was born in Kyiv but moved to Canada in 2014. One of her songs tells the true story of a single father who traveled to Moscow from his home in Mariupol to rescue his son and two daughters from Russian control.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "REMEMBER, I BELIEVE IN YOU")
DAUGHTERS OF DONBAS: (Singing in Ukrainian).
GRIFFITHS: The Daughters of Donbas play a mixture of original compositions, Ukrainian traditional songs and poetry with fresh musical arrangements. On stage, the musicians are joined by a teenager called Lisa, who asked we not use her full name because some members of her extended family are in Russian-controlled territory.
Lisa is now 19. But just over three years ago, she says that she and her family were taken from their home in Mariupol and forced into different Russian filtration camps. Lisa says she was separated from her parents by Russian soldiers.
LISA: I turned my head and saw how my mother started crying and screaming, there is my daughter, let her go, and they are starting to yelling at her and said that she is supposed to shut up, or they will kill her.
GRIFFITHS: Lisa was later reunited with her mother and father and siblings, unlike many others. Speaking on stage, she breaks down in tears. Russia disputes the number of Ukrainian children who have been taken and claims it is actually evacuating them from war zones. However, in March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights for the unlawful deportation of children, which could constitute potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
KATERYNA RASHEVSKA: And children, they are just children. And Russians are doing everything in order to, like, eradicate their identity.
GRIFFITHS: Kateryna Rashevska works in Kyiv at the Regional Centre for Human Rights NGO and says that while almost 2,000 children have been returned, that's nowhere near enough.
RASHEVSKA: Around 20,000 children should be returned as soon as possible because time plays against us.
GRIFFITHS: Rashevska says abducted children should be returned as part of any peace agreement.
RASHEVSKA: If we are not able to guarantee the rights of our children, how we will be able to guarantee the security and the sustainable peace for our country?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FOREIGN LAND")
DAUGHTERS OF DONBAS: (Singing in Ukrainian).
GRIFFITHS: This month, the Daughters of Donbas are releasing their first album, called "Songs For Stolen Children," including this single with a poignant name, "Foreign Land."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FOREIGN LAND")
DAUGHTERS OF DONBAS: (Singing in Ukrainian).
GRIFFITHS: As they tour the world, the band members say they are singing for children who don't have a voice. Robbie Griffiths, NPR News, London.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FOREIGN LAND")
DAUGHTERS OF DONBAS: (Singing in Ukrainian). Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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