Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country has successfully repatriated more than 2,100 children who were unlawfully taken to Russia. This information was shared following a briefing from the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, which focuses on the return of these children.
According to the initiative’s report, the repatriation efforts have resulted in the return of over 2,100 children since the program’s inception, including 150 children returned since the beginning of 2026. The ongoing work aims to address the significant issue of child abduction during the ongoing conflict.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that a special commission within the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice is actively analyzing and verifying cases of child abduction attributed to Russian authorities. This systematic approach is crucial in understanding the full scope of the situation.
Participants also discussed future actions in line with the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the return of Ukrainian children, which was adopted in December 2025. This resolution underscores the international community’s commitment to addressing the issue of child abduction.
Notably, a recent report from an independent international commission established by the UN has classified the deportation and forced relocation of Ukrainian children as a crime against humanity. This designation marks a significant step in the global acknowledgment of the severity of the situation.
The next phase of international cooperation will involve a meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, scheduled for May 11 in Brussels. Ukraine is hopeful for broad participation from international partners and aims to secure concrete measures to expedite the return of these unlawfully taken children.
As of late March 2023, Ukrainian authorities confirmed that over 19,500 children have been taken from temporarily occupied territories to Russia. The actual number is difficult to ascertain due to the conditions of occupation.
On April 5, 2023, representatives from 49 countries condemned Russia for convening a Security Council meeting regarding the supposed legal grounds for the abduction of Ukrainian children. The UK blocked the broadcast of statements made by Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, at the UN, calling for accountability for her actions in The Hague.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has indicated that there is currently no transparent mechanism in place to facilitate the return of deported Ukrainian children from Russia. This lack of a clear process complicates the repatriation efforts.
On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova, suspecting them of illegal deportation and relocation of Ukrainian children.
Earlier, on February 17, 2026, President Zelensky reported that 2,000 Ukrainian children had been successfully returned to the country, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address this humanitarian crisis.
Ukraine has successfully repatriated over 2,100 children taken by Russia, as reported by President Zelensky. The ongoing initiative aims to address the widespread abduction of children amid the conflict, with international cooperation and legal actions underway.