Over 1.6 Million Ukrainian Children Abducted by Russia: Ambassadors Rally Global Support
Ukrainian ambassadors gathered in Kyiv for a high-level session focused on expanding international support to return children illegally taken by Russia.
The event was part of the broader conference of Ukrainian diplomatic mission heads and highlighted the ongoing efforts under the presidential initiative Bring Kids Back UA, The Gaze reports, citing the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Daria Zarivna, advisor to the Head of the President’s Office and COO of Bring Kids Back UA, underscored that the deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children by Russia represent a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
“The Bring Kids Back UA initiative was created in response to an unprecedented crime. Today, it’s more than an initiative — it’s a global movement. We’ve managed to bring 1,458 children home, but over 1.6 million remain under Russian control. We have the power to change this, and diplomacy is key,” she said.
Zarivna also praised Ukrainian embassies for amplifying the campaign #ChildrenAreNonNegotiable, which reached millions and helped shape resolutions in the European Parliament and national legislatures worldwide.
Daria Herasymchuk, the President’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, called on diplomats to keep spreading the truth:
“Even a few minutes can change a life. Share the stories of Ukrainian children in your host countries. Speak not with your own voice, but with the voice of those children Russia is trying to silence.”
The session concluded with a discussion on future diplomatic and human rights strategies, including bringing more countries into the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
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