War

European Parliament adopts resolution on return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia

The head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, expressed gratitude to the European Parliament for the resolution adopted today on the return of Ukrainian children who were deported or forcibly displaced by Russia.
The head of the Presidential Office said this in Telegram, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.

“The European Parliament clearly states: No real peace agreement without the return of abducted children. I sincerely thank the European Parliament for its clear position, solidarity and support for the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA,” Yermak said.

He noted that the resolution, supported by five leading political groups of the European Parliament, contains the following key provisions: first, it condemns Russia’s violent actions and Belarus’ complicity in crimes against Ukrainian children: murders, forced displacement and deportation, illegal adoptions, sexual violence, forced Russification and militarization.

Secondly, it calls on the EU to bring the perpetrators to justice and impose sanctions on individuals and institutions involved in these crimes.

The third requirement of the document is to immediately stop the crimes, disclose information about all deported children and ensure their safe and unconditional return.

The European Parliament also calls for international organizations to have access to all children taken to Russia and condemns the forced imposition of Russian citizenship and state adoption programs as tools of forced assimilation.

Finally, the European Parliament calls on the international community to strengthen coordination, in particular through the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

According to Daria Zarivna, Chief Operating Officer of Bring Kids Back UA, as of April 2025, Ukraine has returned 1269 children home. This was achieved thanks to the mediation of third countries and close cooperation between the state and non-governmental organizations conducting rescue missions.

In total, according to confirmed information alone, Russia has abducted and illegally taken more than 19,000 Ukrainian children. According to estimates, about 1.6 million Ukrainian children are in the temporarily occupied territories.