How Ukraine Is Bringing Home 22,000 Children Deported to Russia.

The Crisis of Deported Ukrainian Children

According to UATV: Since the war began, Russian forces have forcibly removed 22,000 children from Ukraine—a figure confirmed by official records and one that has deeply alarmed both Kyiv and the international community. Among them is Bohdan Yermokhin, a survivor of the Mariupol siege, who was taken by Russian troops. Many of these children have since been subjected to forced 're-education' programs inside Russia.

In 2025, Iryna Rudnytska, Bohdan's guardian, was charged with human trafficking—a case that underscores the grave risks facing Ukrainian children caught in these circumstances. As of June 2026, 2,274 children have been returned to Ukraine, though this represents only a fraction of those abducted. Ukrainian authorities are working tirelessly to bring every child back, prioritizing their safety and well-being above all else.

Global Solidarity and Legal Action

The international community has rallied behind Ukraine's efforts. A UN resolution calling for the return of Ukrainian children has received support from 91 countries. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that

“the Russians proposed that we give them soldiers, and they would give us children”

—a chilling example of the policies surrounding these events. In response, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Maria Lvova-Belova and Vladimir Putin, signaling recognition of crimes tied to the rights of Ukrainian children.

Anisia Syniuk noted that

“when it comes to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, one key point from the first resolution of 2023 is that Russia's actions violating the rights of Ukrainian children in occupied territories bear signs of the crime of genocide”

. This further underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for protective measures. Ukraine continues its push to bring children home, treating each case as critical in its mission to rescue every child in danger.

The deportation of Ukrainian children represents a severe breach of human rights and a defining challenge for Ukraine amid the war. For the government, repatriation remains the top priority, with child safety and welfare at the heart of the process. International backing and the formal recognition of these crimes as acts of forced deportation may prove essential in resolving this ongoing crisis.