Return of deported Ukrainian children: MFA calls on the world to increase pressure on Russia
The return of Ukrainian children illegally deported or forcibly displaced by Russia remains one of the most complex humanitarian issues related to the war. For Ukraine, this topic concerns not diplomatic rhetoric, but specific children whose families have lost contact with them, as well as mechanisms for international pressure, tracing, verification, rehabilitation and accountability of those involved in their removal. Against this background, the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Day of Remembrance of Children Who Died as a Result of Russian Aggression outlines Ukraine’s demands to partners and fixes the state’s position on the unconditional return of every child.
Ukraine calls for increased pressure on Russia
On the Day of Remembrance of Children Who Died as a Result of Russian Armed Aggression, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine addressed the international community with a statement regarding illegally deported and forcibly displaced Ukrainian children. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that their return should remain among the key issues of the international agenda, since this is not about political agreements, but about protecting the rights of children separated from their families, homes and their own environment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated the need for the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who were illegally deported or forcibly displaced by Russia. This appeal is addressed to partner states, international organizations and all participants in humanitarian mechanisms that may influence the process of searching, identifying and returning children.
The Ukrainian side emphasizes that the return of children cannot depend on the political situation, negotiation formats or future diplomatic agreements. In the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this topic is presented as a separate humanitarian issue that requires constant attention, practical solutions and coordinated international pressure on Russia.
The role of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children
The statement places special emphasis on the work of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on partners to become more actively involved in its activities, since the search and return of deported children require not only diplomatic statements, but also systematic work with documents, testimonies, travel routes and verification of information.
Ukraine expects partners to strengthen data exchange, support search and verification mechanisms, as well as funding programs related to the organized return of children. After return, a child needs not short-term assistance, but long-term rehabilitation, psychological support, restoration of documents, family support and a gradual return to normal life.
Sanctions against those involved in deportation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on states and international organizations to continue and strengthen sanctions against all individuals and structures involved in the illegal deportation, forced displacement, militarization, indoctrination and illegal adoption of Ukrainian children.
The statement emphasized that responsibility should be borne not only by those who made decisions at a high level, but also by organizers, executors and all participants in the processes related to the removal of children, changing their identity, transferring them to other families or involving them in programs aimed at separating them from their Ukrainian origin.
For Ukraine, the issue of legal consequences remains fundamental. Participation in such actions, according to the Foreign Ministry, should entail political, economic and criminal responsibility. This concerns a group of individuals who organized the movement of children, facilitated illegal adoption, participated in changing personal data or influenced the upbringing of children in an environment where they were distanced from their Ukrainian identity.
International law and child protection
Ukraine confirmed its commitment to the norms of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that the protection of children during armed conflicts is enshrined in international legal documents, and violations of these norms must receive a clear response.
The statement emphasized that Ukrainian children cannot be the subject of political bargaining or compromises. Their return, according to the Foreign Ministry, must remain part of every diplomatic effort, every peace initiative, and every future conversation about justice and security.
The Foreign Ministry thanked the states, international organizations, humanitarian partners, civil society representatives, and human rights defenders who are helping Ukrainian children and their families. Special mention was made of those who facilitate the return of children, document Russia’s crimes, and support war-torn families.
Such work includes gathering evidence, establishing the whereabouts of children, legal support, humanitarian assistance, psychological support, and subsequent reintegration after return to Ukraine. For many families, this process remains complex and lengthy, as each case requires verification, coordination between different structures, and a safe return mechanism.
The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was made on the day dedicated to the memory of children who died due to Russian aggression, so its content combines two important themes: honoring the dead and the demand to protect those children who remain illegally displaced or deported.
Ukraine once again fixed its position: the return of children must be unconditional, those guilty of their removal and attempts to change their identity must be held accountable, and international support must turn into practical actions – from sanctions to financing rehabilitation programs. It is such consistent work, according to the logic of the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that should ensure not declarative protection of children’s rights, but the real return of each child home.
