The identity of a mother suspected of abducting her British toddler in Spain and taking him to Russia has been revealed for the first time. Oliver Pugh, a 3-year-old, was last seen in Marbella on the Costa del Sol in July. Authorities are treating his disappearance as a case of parental abduction following a court ruling in Marbella.
Anastasiia Chikina, 32, the mother, is said to have taken the boy just before he was to be taken into custody based on the court decision. The family resided in Marbella, although the parents had been living separately since May 2024, sharing care of Oliver from different residences. The father of the child has not seen his son in over a month, and authorities suspect Anastasiia has fled with him to Russia.
In an interview with The Sun, Oliver’s father expressed his concern, stating that Anastasiia disappeared with their son upon realizing she might lose custody. The father, who remains anonymous, is offering a reward of £87,000 (€100,000) for any information leading to Oliver’s safe return.
Spanish authorities have reached out to Interpol to secure an international arrest warrant for Anastasiia on suspicion of abduction. The father of the child, who works in IT, has made a direct appeal to Anastasiia to return their son.
The father emphasized the importance of both parents in Oliver’s life, urging Anastasiia to reconsider her actions for the well-being of their child. A court ruling earlier this summer granted full custody of Oliver to his father, leading to Anastasiia’s alleged abduction of the child post the final hearing in July. Anastasiia’s mother, Angela (Anzhela) Nikolenko, and her 15-year-old sister are also reported missing.
With no sign of Anastasiia or Oliver at their residence, the father reported the situation to the police on August 7. Authorities believe Anastasiia has left Spain with the child for Russia. An alert for missing persons described Oliver’s details and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The Foreign Office is assisting in the case of the missing British child in Spain, offering support to the family during this difficult time.
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