The return of Ukrainian children illegally removed from the occupied territories or forcibly relocated by Russia remains one of the most complex humanitarian issues of the war. Each such case requires political pressure, legal work and the participation of international partners. Ukraine is intensifying this topic at the level of parliaments of other states so that the issue of children does not disappear from the diplomatic agenda and receives practical support outside Ukrainian institutions. The return of Ukrainian children illegally removed by the Russian Federation has become one of the priorities of the Spanish Senate.
Event on the issue of Ukrainian children in the Spanish Senate
The Spanish Senate held a special event dedicated to the return of Ukrainian children illegally removed by Russia. The Ukrainian delegation took part in it, and the main goal of the meeting was to strengthen international efforts necessary to return the children home.
The event was initiated by the Chairman of the Spanish Senate, Pedro Rolland. The event was a continuation of the agreements he reached with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, during a meeting in Madrid. This format was intended to draw the attention of Spanish politicians, diplomats and the public to a specific problem that requires not declarative support, but concerted action.
Pedro Rolland stressed that the return of Ukrainian children is one of the priorities of the Spanish Senate. Such a statement is important for Ukraine, since support at the parliamentary level helps to consolidate the topic of abducted children in the political work of the partner country.
“Even in war, not everything is allowed. What Russia is doing is one of the most heinous acts possible,” Rolland said at the opening of the special event.
He emphasized that the International Criminal Court had already seen the arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, and called on the ICC to act “not only against two individuals, but against all those who contributed to this, because this process of Russification requires a significant structure, formed from a significant number of individuals and authorities.”
The Spanish Senate has already taken a separate step in this direction. On March 4, 2026, senators unanimously adopted a declaration in which they condemned the forced displacement of Ukrainian children and confirmed their readiness to facilitate their return. The unanimous vote showed that the issue has the support of various political forces in Spain, therefore it does not depend on internal party struggle.
What the Ukrainian side presented
During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation presented the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, aimed at the return of children, documentation of crimes, international cooperation and assistance to those who have already been returned. The presentation was intended to explain to the Spanish partners how the Ukrainian mechanism works and where additional support is needed.
The event was given special importance by the speeches of young Ukrainians who managed to return home. Their stories showed that behind political decisions lie the specific fates of children who have survived forced deportation, separation from their families, and pressure from the Russian system.
By supporting the Ukrainian initiative at the Senate level, Spain can help diplomatically promote the topic, find allies, and create additional pressure on Russia. It is important for Ukraine that the issue of abducted children be raised in European parliaments, as international attention complicates Moscow’s attempts to hide the scale of forced displacement.
Of particular importance is the participation of the public and diplomats who attended the event. Through such platforms, information about abducted children goes beyond official statements and becomes part of a broader international discussion, where each country can determine its own role in the return of Ukrainian minors.
