Father On The Run: Ukrainian Man Allegedly Abducts His Children From Sylmar And Flees Toward Ukraine Via Mexico
A frantic search is underway as Los Angeles authorities seek two siblings allegedly abducted by their father, who is believed to be attempting to smuggle them from Sylmar, California, all the way back to Ukraine. This developing cross-border case highlights the complexities of international custody disputes and the alarming prevalence of family abductions nationwide.
According to multiple sources from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), 9-year-old Avaora Kolomoeits and her 7-year-old brother, Hrant, were last seen at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday at their elementary school on Hubbard Street in Sylmar. The children's father, 39-year-old Ukrainian national Rodion Kolomoeits, who reportedly had recently lost custody of the kids, allegedly picked them up without legal authorization.
Just three hours later, security footage and border records indicate that Rodion’s 2016 gray Toyota Prius with license plate 9PKY966 crossed the San Ysidro border into Mexico. Authorities suspect this was part of a desperate plan to reach Ukraine with the children, raising fears of an international custody violation and potential diplomatic hurdles for their recovery.
The children are described as native Russian speakers. Avaora is approximately 4 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 75 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, last seen wearing a blue shirt and black pants. Her younger brother Hrant stands about 4 feet tall, weighs 50 pounds, with similar coloring, and was dressed in a green and blue sweater paired with black pants. Both children appear innocent pawns in a larger, unsettling family conflict now enfolded in an international flight.
As for the suspect, Rodion Kolomoeits is about 5 feet 11 inches tall, with brown hair and gray eyes. His status as a Ukrainian national combined with recent custody loss suggests a possible motive rooted in a desperate parental impulse, but one that has crossed alarming legal and ethical boundaries.
Detectives, including Mission Division's Detective Gutierrez, urge anyone with information about the whereabouts of Rodion or the children to call (818) 838-9810. Anonymous tips can be submitted via L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or their website, www.lacrimestoppers.org.
This troubling incident sheds light on the pervasive issue of family abductions. According to national statistics, roughly 200,000 children are taken by family members annually–a far more frequent occurrence than stranger abductions. Yet, when a custody battle spills across international borders, the complexity–and the stakes–escalate dramatically.
Court records surrounding Rodion’s loss of custody remain undisclosed, but these details often reveal bitter disputes that tragically entangle innocent children. Law enforcement’s concern is compounded by geopolitical tensions and the difficulty in coordinating with foreign jurisdictions, especially amidst current global uncertainties.
This case not only highlights the personal anguish of two young children caught in a parental tug-of-war but also underscores a systemic issue where legal lines are blurred by international flight. It raises questions about safeguarding vulnerable minors and the need for swift, cooperative international legal responses.
As the search extends beyond U.S. borders, many in the local and international community watch anxiously, hoping for a peaceful resolution and safe return. What do you think about the rising number of family abductions and how they cross legal and moral boundaries? Share your thoughts and stay tuned as more unfolds in this rapidly developing story.
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