Ukraine creates new platform for return of children deported by Russia

The Verkhovna Rada and the presidential initiative Bring Kids Back UA are launching a new format of cooperation to strengthen international work on the return of Ukrainian children who were deported or forcibly relocated by Russia. They plan to more actively involve people’s deputies in the work.

According to the head of Bring Kids Back UA Maksym Maksymov, the state register contains more than 20 thousand records on the possible deportation and forcible relocation of Ukrainian children. At the same time, Ukraine has already managed to return 2,525 children home.

How the new platform will work

The new format of cooperation should operate on an ongoing basis. People’s deputies will receive verified information, legal expertise, up-to-date analytics, and ready-made materials for working with international partners.

The goal is to increase international pressure on Russia and constantly raise the issue of the return of Ukrainian children at the PACE, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and when working with parliaments of other countries.

Children are systematically militarized in occupied territories

During the first meetings within the initiative, the situation of children in temporarily occupied territories was also discussed.

According to Onisia Synyuk, head of the analytical department of the ZMINA Human Rights Center, Russia has created a comprehensive system of militarization of children there. School education includes Russian propaganda narratives, promotion of service in the Russian army, and preparation for military service.

Ukrainian children are also involved in Russian youth organizations, military-patriotic camps, programs, and competitions.

Ukraine calls for increased international pressure

Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratyuk recalled that resolutions condemning the deportation of Ukrainian children have already been adopted by the parliaments of a number of countries, the European Parliament, and PACE. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized Russia’s actions against Ukrainian children as having signs of genocide.

In December 2025, the UN General Assembly also adopted a resolution calling on Russia to immediately, safely and unconditionally return deported and forcibly displaced Ukrainian children.

A separate area of ​​further work should be the unification of sanctions lists of partner countries to strengthen coordinated pressure on individuals involved in crimes against Ukrainian children.