Ukrainian Children Removed From Longwood Home

The tense international custody standoff over three Ukrainian girls ended Thursday. Eyewitness News has been following developments in the story since Tuesday and Thursday a judge ordered a Central Florida family to turn over the children.

It's been an emotional day for all involved. It took three and half hours to convince Larry Vander Maten to comply with the judges order and give the girls over to deputies so they could be returned to their foster father.

GIRLS HANDED OVER: Images | Ground Video | Aerial Video EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Longwood Man Expresses "Outrage"

Only Eyewitness News was there as the girls were re-united with their legal guardian late Thursday afternoon (images | ground video | aerial video). It was quite a scene as developer Larry Vander Maten shoved the girls' guardian and yelled threats at him.

The three Ukrainian sisters, ages 9, 12, and 13, have been in Orlando living with Vander Maten since June for a summer hosting program. They were supposed to go back to the Ukraine a week and a half ago, but Vander Maten refused to send them home because he wants to adopt them.

Thursday, a judge ruled the children belong with their foster father in the Ukraine and ordered deputies to pick them up.

Vander Maten says he is worried for the girls' safety and that is why he was trying to adopt them.

"I'm terrified by it," Vander Maten told Eyewitness News (watch exclusive interview). "I'm outraged that our judicial system would allow this kind of activity to take place."

Their legal guardian said he is hoping to get the girls on the next flight to Ukraine.

Vander Maten says he is not giving up and he will continue to fight for custody of the girls.

Previous Stories: September 9, 2009: Ukraine Says Local Man Hasn't Returned Kids