Russia’s war has not only destroyed lives and land—it has stolen childhoods. In this video we hear from survivors of these abductions. The EU pledges full support to Ukraine’s fight for justice, stating: “These children are Ukraine’s future. We will not rest until every single one is home.”

Justice for Ukraine’s children—because no child should be a weapon of war.

Russia’s war has not only destroyed lives and land—it has stolen childhoods. Thousands of children have been illegally deported, separated from their families, and in many cases, had their identities erased. The world must act to: 

✔ Find and return every child to their homes and families. 

✔ Support their reintegration into Ukrainian society. 

✔ Hold Russia accountable for these war crimes.

Who’s Involved?

Top leaders, including:

• Kaja Kallas (EU High Representative)
• Marta Kos (EU Commissioner on Enlargement)
• Andrii Sybiha (Ukraine’s Foreign Minister)
• Anita Anand (Canada’s Foreign Minister)

They will be joined by many countries and global organisations as part of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, launched in 2024 to coordinate legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian efforts.

The meeting will focus on:

1. Strengthening global action to trace and return abducted children.
2. Increasing sanctions against those responsible.
3. Using expert recommendations from a Civil Society Forum in Kyiv (30 April) to guide next steps.

The EU’s Commitment

The EU has pledged full support to Ukraine’s fight for justice, stating: “These children are Ukraine’s future. We will not rest until every single one is home.”

Justice for Ukraine’s children—because no child should be a weapon of war.

Russia runs a coordinated information-manipulation campaign to obscure and justify the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children. Deportations are official framed as “evacuations” or humanitarian rescues

The Kremlin also seeks to discredit institutions such as the ICC, fast‑track citizenship, place children in Russian adoptive families, and run camp programs that promote Russian identity. These tactics amount to cultural assimilation and coercion.

International bodies document the crimes and support accountability measures. Civil-society and expert forums met at an International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children convening in Brussels on 11 May to align evidence, policy and operational steps. 

The response includes 

• documenting abuses
• countering false narratives with verified evidence and testimony 
• coordinating diplomacy and legal action 
• prioritising family reunification 

To learn more about the disinformation campaign waged by the Kremlin, follow the link to EU vs Disinfo and How Russia lies about the stolen Ukrainian children