On April 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reached out to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a request for assistance in recovering 400 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia from temporarily occupied territories.

Source: Zelensky at a joint press conference

Direct quote: "These children are in Russia against their will, a tragic consequence of the war we are enduring. Unfortunately, we face a dire issue, as tens of thousands of children have been abducted from occupied regions of Ukraine. We must bring them all back, just like the thousands of military and civilian prisoners who have been held in Russian jails under inhumane conditions for years. South Africa plays a significant role in the coalition for the return of Ukrainian children, and I hope President Ramaphosa will assist us in this endeavor."