Russia deported thousands of Ukrainian children: how they are being returned home.

According to FREEДOM:

In Ukraine, as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky's initiative Bring Kids Back UA, efforts continue to return children from temporarily occupied territories and Russia. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham reported that since the beginning of the war, Russia has kidnapped at least 19,500 Ukrainian children. He plans to initiate a bill recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Returning children home

Recently, three children aged 6 to 15 years, as well as a young man from the temporarily occupied territories and Russia, were returned to Ukraine. The children had been living away from their families for a long time: some were left without parental care, while others could not meet with their parents due to occupation and dangerous routes.

“A young man was in the Oleshky orphanage at the time of the large-scale invasion. Russia illegally transported him first to the temporarily occupied territory and then to Russia,” Bring Kids Back UA officials said.

Additionally, five more Ukrainian citizens were returned, including four young people and an infant. This was reported by the head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak.

“An 18-year-old girl spent her entire childhood and adolescence under occupation, facing constant pressure and danger. Her support throughout these years was an aunt from Kyiv, who was waiting for her niece in free Ukraine,” he wrote on Telegram.

Yermak also reported the return of a young couple with a baby.

“They lived without electricity, water, and security. They finally decided to leave. Their brother also went with them,” Andriy Yermak clarified.

In August, 12 children were returned from the temporarily occupied territory, who had experienced pressure and persecution.

“Occupiers storm into their homes with searches, force them to attend Russian schools and obtain Russian passports, threaten them with conscription or separation from their parents. Some of the children witnessed the brutal torture of relatives or faced humiliation and fear daily,” the head of the President's Office reported.

Currently, the children are safe in Ukraine, undergoing rehabilitation, receiving psychological help, restoring documents, and can once again study and plan their futures.

“They are provided with psychological help and the opportunity to restore their documents,” Yermak noted.

Thanks to partners, Ukraine managed to return 1,500 children. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported the readiness of the U.S. to assist in the return of even more children.

“We and all partners need information about identification, where our children are, as it is difficult to find them across different families and various territories of Russia. Therefore, countries like Canada, Qatar, and the Vatican are working to locate our children and negotiate their return,” Zelensky said.

U.S. President Donald Trump also sent a letter to the Kremlin head, stressing the need to return the children.

“As parents, we are obligated to nurture the hope of the next generation... You, Mr. Putin, can return their melodic laughter,” the letter states.

Trump discussed this issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who emphasized that the victims of war must stop.

“This means that every Ukrainian child kidnapped by Russia must return to their family,” Ursula von der Leyen wrote.

Senator Graham condemns Russia’s actions against Ukrainian children, stating that their policy is barbaric.

“I intend to initiate a law that recognizes Russia as a state supporting terrorism if it does not return the children,” Graham said.

By the end of 2024, evidence of a systematic policy of adoption and guardianship of Russian citizens over children illegally deported from Ukraine was provided at Yale's Humanitarian Laboratory.

This abduction led to the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.

Experts' Assessment of the Kidnapping of Ukrainian Children

On the FREEДOM television channel, the systematic deportation of Ukrainian children and changes to their identity by Russia were discussed:

• Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the President's Office of Ukraine;
• Yekaterina Rashevskaya, expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights (RCHR);
• Tatyana Pechonchik, head of the board of the Human Rights Center 'ZMINA';
• Oleksandr Pavlychenko, human rights defender, executive director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

MYKHALO PODOLYAK: Deported Children — a Speculative Component of War

— Putin will not agree to the return of the stolen Ukrainian children.

“The deported population is undoubtedly a speculative component of war. Russia always acts the same way: occupies territories and takes people away, replacing them with its citizens,” Podolyak noted.

The civilized world abides by different principles, where the value of human life is always paramount.

YEKATERINA RASHEVSKAYA: The Return of Children Must Happen Before Peace Talks Begin

— Russia is trying to change the legislation to stop the return of Ukrainian children, especially orphans.

“The Russian Federation is doing everything to indoctrinate our children, preparing them for combat actions,” Rashevskaya emphasized.

The quality of the return of children to Ukraine depends on international support.

“Ukraine constantly raises the issue of children's return in negotiations. This process must happen unconditionally,” she noted.

The issue of returning children who witnessed the Kremlin's crimes is extremely important in light of international politics. Currently, active work is underway to return them to Ukraine.

TATYANA PECHONCHIK: The Deportation of Ukrainian Children Is an Act of Genocide

— The situation may change if sufficient evidence is gathered.

“The transfer of children from one national group to another should be considered as one of the components of the crime of genocide,” Pechonchik noted.

National and international organizations must actively work on documenting these crimes.

OLEKSANDR PAVLYCHENKO: Russia Is Changing Data on Ukrainian Children

— Children are the most vulnerable category needing protection.

“Russia continues its policy of indoctrination,” Pavlychenko stressed.

It is important to have a complete database of the whereabouts of children who may have been deported from Ukraine.

In the future, all participants in the international process must commit to making progress in the return of children.