Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has reported the deaths of at least 707 children, with thousands more injured or missing. These figures were highlighted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets on June 4, coinciding with the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
President Zelensky stated, “Each death is a child whose future has been stolen. Russia must be held accountable for these crimes.” The report indicates that, in addition to the fatalities, around 2,548 children have sustained injuries, while 2,318 remain unaccounted for. Among the deceased, the youngest was just two days old, having been born and died in a maternity hospital.
Ombudsman Lubinets expressed concern that the actual numbers may be significantly higher, as many details remain unknown from temporarily occupied territories. Additionally, thousands of Ukrainian children have reportedly been deported to Russia or forcibly relocated.
In March 2023, the Ukrainian government estimated that approximately 1.6 million Ukrainian children were located in Russia or in occupied areas. The issue of child abduction has drawn international condemnation, with 49 countries denouncing Russia’s actions regarding the alleged legal justifications for the abduction of Ukrainian children from occupied territories.
On April 5, 2023, the United Kingdom blocked a broadcast of Russian children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova’s speech at a UN Security Council meeting, calling for her to face justice at The Hague for her role in these actions.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office noted the absence of a clear and transparent mechanism for the return of deported Ukrainian children from Russia. Furthermore, on March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova, suspecting them of illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
Ukraine has reported at least 707 child fatalities since the start of the conflict with Russia, alongside thousands of injuries and disappearances. The ongoing situation raises serious concerns about the safety and well-being of children in the region, as international scrutiny of Russia's actions continues.