Ukraine returns 1359 deported children under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative

Illustrative photo. Source: pixabay.com

As part of the Ukrainian humanitarian programme Bring Kids Back UA, 1359 children who were illegally deported by Russia have already been returned to Ukraine.

This was announced by Daria Zarivna, the initiative's chief operating officer and advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, during a panel discussion on The Fight to Return Ukraine's Stolen Children at the GLOBSEC 2025 security forum in Prague, the press service of the Presidential Office reports.

Daria Zarivna stressed that the issue of returning children goes beyond the humanitarian dimension and is of global security importance.

«Russia militarises Ukrainian children under occupation and prepares them for service in the aggressor's army. This is not only a violation of international law, it is a long-term threat to the entire world. If this practice is not stopped, it may become a new and terrible norm in future conflicts», she said.

The Bring Kids Back UA initiative aims to coordinate the efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and international partners to return illegally taken Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories and Russia.

Earlier, it was reported that the organisation, which, as part of the Ukraine Conflict Observatory initiative, monitored Russia's war crimes against Ukraine, including the abduction of Ukrainian children, is preparing to close due to funding cuts by the US government.