The father of a three-year-old British boy at the center of an international abduction case has been identified as Matthew Pugh, 36, from Bedford, after his son was allegedly taken to Russia by his mother.
Oliver Pugh, described as 2ft 7in tall with blonde hair and grey eyes, disappeared from the Costa del Sol on July 4. Spanish police believe he was taken by his mother, Russian influencer Anastasiia Chikina, 32, shortly after a Marbella court granted Matthew full custody of the boy.
The case has triggered a major international search, with Oliver’s father offering a £87,000 (€100,000) reward for information leading to his recovery.
Speaking to The Sun, Matthew said: “We have no idea where they are — Oliver could be anywhere. Anastasiia appears to have run off with Oliver when she realised she was going to lose custody.”
He alleged that Chikina had tried to secure full custody and continued access to their family home in Marbella but failed. “As a result, she was set to lose custody and face a period of limited supervised visits,” he explained.
Oliver, described by family as “bright” and “active,” reportedly loves planes, cars, and Lego.
Why Russia?
Authorities fear Chikina fled to Russia with Oliver to place him beyond the reach of British and Spanish authorities. Russia has no extradition treaties with the UK or Spain and typically refuses to extradite its own citizens. While it is unclear whether Oliver holds Russian citizenship, legal experts warn that the jurisdictional gap may make securing his return extremely difficult.
Chikina’s mother, Angela (Anzhela) Nikolenko, and her 15-year-old sister also disappeared at the same time.
Police and Political Response
Spanish police have contacted Interpol in an effort to obtain an international arrest warrant for Chikina, who is wanted on suspicion of abduction. Weeks after the investigation began, Chikina resurfaced on Instagram, writing cryptic posts about the custody dispute:
“Talk about how scary it is when the system is against the child… The truth will not be pleasant to everyone, but here it comes out.”
Meanwhile, Kremlin-linked media figures have defended her. Russian state columnist Vladimir Kornilov suggested that if Chikina had indeed taken Oliver to Russia, the move should be respected: “If London can call him British, why can’t I call him Russian by the same logic?”
Diplomatic Efforts
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is supporting Oliver’s family. A spokesperson said: “We are assisting the family of a British child who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the relevant authorities.”
For Matthew Pugh, the priority remains bringing his son home. “Oliver could be anywhere,” he said. “We just want him back safe.”
As the custody battle escalates into an international standoff, the case highlights the challenges of cross-border child abductions where jurisdictions clash — and politics complicate personal tragedy.
