The Nizhny Novgorod woman was reunited with her little granddaughter after a year of separation.

      May 1, 2026 09:22 Society The story of Svetlana Mashkova, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod, who spent almost a year fighting for custody of her granddaughter, ended with the child's return to the family, reports "KP-Nizhny Novgorod." The girl is now home and feels well.

      Recall that the little girl ended up in a baby home in April of last year: her mother is serving a sentence, and her father was not listed on the birth certificate at that time. While he was processing documents with the mother, the girl was placed with another family in a different city. Later, the man went to a combat zone, and the grandmother continued to seek custody.

      According to Mashkova, the foster parents were aware of the relatives but were not in a hurry to return the child. The situation changed after public outcry: by that time, the kinship had already been officially confirmed.

      At first, the grandmother was allowed a short meeting with her granddaughter in the presence of the guardians. A few days later, after checking the living conditions, the girl was handed over to the family.

      "Everything went calmly, Lena didn't even cry," Svetlana said. The child quickly adapted at home, became interested in toys, and spent her first night peacefully.

      Now, according to the grandmother, the girl feels "good and calm." The father is not yet aware of his daughter's return—he is in a combat zone and does not always stay in touch. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is required. This resource may contain materials 18+