The conflict in Ukraine has seen alarming instances of child militarization in Russia and illicit activities involving children. Ukrainian authorities have imposed sanctions on Russian entities linked to child abductions and utilize initiatives like "Bring Kids Back UA" to repatriate displaced children. Globally, Europol aids in locating forcibly transferred youths, while US and international support strengthens these efforts. Cases of violence and exploitation remain significant concerns, as various international organizations condemn Russia's policies of child deportation and manipulation as crimes against humanity. Such global cooperation underscores the urgency in safeguarding affected children's welfare and rights.
What is the Bring Kids Back UA initiative and who is behind it?
The Bring Kids Back UA initiative aims to reunite Ukrainian children forcibly taken by Russia back to safety. Led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it involves cooperation between Ukrainian state structures, non-governmental organizations, and international partners, thereby highlighting Ukraine's commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of its youth amidst the ongoing conflict.
How is Ukraine addressing the militarization of children?
Ukraine is actively condemning and imposing sanctions on activities related to the militarization of children, particularly in response to Russia's use of educational programs to indoctrinate children with military propaganda. Ukrainian officials are pursuing legal action against those who organize such activities, emphasizing the country's firm stance against utilizing children in military or political agendas.
How are international entities like Europol involved in tracing Ukrainian children?
Europol is crucial in tracing and investigating cases of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Through coordinated investigations with global partners, Europol utilizes open-source intelligence to trace these children, assisting Ukraine in these complex operations. This international collaboration underscores the global community's concerted efforts to address and mitigate the humanitarian impacts of the conflict.
What actions has the US taken to support Ukrainian children?
The US has allocated $25 million to fund initiatives supporting the return and rehabilitation of displaced Ukrainian children. This financial support signifies a substantial commitment to international cooperative efforts aimed at countering the forcible displacement of children and providing comprehensive reintegration and recovery programs.
How has the international community responded to Russia's actions against children in Ukraine?
The international community, including the UN and various human rights organizations, has strongly condemned Russia's deportations and forced transfers of Ukrainian children as crimes against humanity. These actions are viewed as egregious violations of children's rights, prompting significant global censure and legal discussions aimed at holding responsible parties accountable.
News children
Russians strike Izium with KAB: seven injured, including three children (updated) Russian forces struck Izium in the Kharkiv region with a guided aerial bomb. Three people were wounded in the attack, including an eight-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. 912 1 Previously in trend: Shelling of Kharkiv region
In occupied Luhansk region, teenagers are being sent to work in factories due to labour shortage, - Regional Military Administration In the temporarily occupied territory of the Luhansk region, teenagers are being recruited to work in industrial enterprises under the guise of summer jobs. According to the Ukrainian authorities, the occupying administration is attempting in this way to make up for staff shortages in the... 711 6 Previously in trend: Russia’s Crimes Against Children in Ukraine Militarization of children in temporarily occupied territories
Teenager from Druzhkivka asks to be evacuated because parents refuse to leave – Lubinets A minor from frontline Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region appealed to Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets for help with evacuation because his parents refused to leave the dangerous area. 2 443 4 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region
Petition by father of 12-year-old Hryhorii, killed in Kyiv road accident, on road safety gains 25,000 signatures in two weeks A petition launched by Oleksii Hlushych, the father of 12-year-old Hryhorii Hlushych, who was killed in a road accident in Kyiv, calling for stronger road safety measures and punishment for reckless drivers, secured the 25,000 signatures required for presidential consideration in just 14 days. 1 615 7 Previously in trend: Fatal traffic accidents
Ukraine returns 2,368 children from deportation and occupation, while more than 20,000 remain in Russia Ukraine has managed to return 2,368 children whom Russia deported or forcibly transferred after the start of the full-scale war. At the same time, the state registry still lists more than 20,600 children who are considered to have been illegally taken away. 351 3 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia
Two more children have been returned from occupied Kherson region: 10-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy Two more children have been brought back to territory controlled by Ukraine from the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region. They are a girl and a boy aged 10 and 14. 300 3 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation
Russian court has sentenced 17-year-old teenager from occupied Donetsk to nine years in prison, - Russian media A Russian court has sentenced a 17-year-old resident of the temporarily occupied Donetsk to nine years in a juvenile detention centre. The teenager was found guilty of treason, preparing a terrorist attack, membership of a terrorist organisation and the unlawful handling of explosives. 1 334 1 Previously in trend: Ukrainians convicted in the Russian Federation
Ukraine has returned 17 more children from occupation, whom Russians were preparing for mobilization and military training, - Kuleba Ukraine has repatriated another 17 children and teenagers from the temporarily occupied territories. Among those rescued are young men whom the Russians attempted to register for military service and mobilize into the Russian Armed Forces, as well as a 20-year-old woman who was forced to undergo... 533 1 Previously in trend: Militarization of children in temporarily occupied territories
Official from Kramatorsk City Council is suspected of possessing child pornography and weapons, - prosecutor’s office. PHOTO A city council official has been arrested in Kramatorsk on suspicion of possessing child pornography, as well as illegally possessing weapons and ammunition. 1 567 6 Previously in trend: Distribution of pornography
Another four children and teenagers returned from occupied Kherson region Another group of Ukrainian children and teenagers has been returned from the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region to Ukrainian-controlled territory. 296 0 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Return from occupation
Vasyl Kostyuk supports the winners of the 2026 Polish Open international karate competition The Polish town of Bielsko-Biala was the site of a major celebration of children’s karate. At the prestigious 2026 Open Polish, which brought together nearly 3,000 karateka from many countries, Ukraine’s Lider Club achieved phenomenal results. 1 103 1
144 people drowned in Ukraine in month, including 35 children, - State Emergency Service In June 2026, 144 people died in Ukraine’s bodies of water, including 35 children. 436 3
In Kryvyi Rih, single father was taken to TCR: his 5-year-old daughter remained at kindergarten and is in care of headteacher. VIDEO In Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, an incident has been reported involving the mobilisation of a 34-year-old man who is a single father raising his 5-year-old daughter. The girl’s father was taken to the TCR and SS whilst his child was at nursery. 19 862 267 Previously in trend: violations during mobilisation Mobilisation in Ukraine
17-year-old Oleksandr Kazaryan and 14-year-old Rostyslav Pachkovskyi rescued people following Russian air strike on Zaporizhzhia. VIDEO Two teenagers from Zaporizhzhia rescued people following a Russian air strike. 6 038 16 Previously in trend: Shelling of Zaporizhzhia
Father of 12-year-old Hryhorii, who died in road traffic accident in Kyiv, is demanding that issue of road deaths be brought before National Security and Defence Council: petition has been submitted to President The father of 12-year-old Hryhorii Hlushych, who died in a road traffic accident on 5 June in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, Oleksii Hlushych, a member of the armed forces, has submitted a petition to the President of Ukraine. He is calling for road safety to be made a priority of state... 10 288 30 Previously in trend: Fatal traffic accidents car accident in Kyiv
Military training of schoolchildren to be doubled in occupied Luhansk region, - RMA In the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast, the Russian occupation authorities will increase the proportion of military training in the school curriculum for students in grades 6–11 starting September 1. 419 5 Previously in trend: Militarization of children in temporarily occupied territories
Russia offered to exchange kidnapped Ukrainian children for prisoners of war, - Zelenska During the negotiations, the Russian side proposed including the abducted Ukrainian children on the list of prisoners of war to be exchanged. 2 076 18 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia
Seven children and teenagers have been returned from occupied Kherson region Another group of children and teenagers has been rescued from the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region. 197 0 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Return from occupation
Occupiers hit beach in Zaporizhzhia with guided aerial bomb: six injured, including three children. PHOTOS (updated) On Wednesday 24 June, Russian invaders attacked Zaporizhzhia. Four people are currently known to have been injured, three of whom are children. 5 042 12 Previously in trend: Shelling of Zaporizhzhia UAV attack on Zaporizhzhia
Russians removed 84 wards from the Oleshky boarding facility: activists identify whereabouts of 46 children Activists have identified the whereabouts of 46 wards of the Oleshky boarding facility in Kherson region, whom the Russians illegally removed after the occupation. 660 1 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia
Russia announced removal of over 700,000 Ukrainian children from occupied territories, - Lubinets Russia has claimed to have taken more than 700,000 Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine to its territory. 2 181 14 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia Russian deportation of Ukrainian children
Belarus has accused Ukraine of attacking bus carrying children in Bryansk region of Russian Federation: Minsk is demanding explanation. PHOTO The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on a passenger coach carrying a children’s football team from Gomel in the Bryansk region of the Russian Federation, and has officially described the incident as an "act of terrorism". The Investigative... 9 080 39 Previously in trend: Striking Russia
11-year-old boy died after being hit by judge at crosswalk in Kryvyi Rih An 11-year-old boy died in the hospital after being struck by Yevheniia Kostenko, a judge of the Dovhintsevskyi District Court in Kryvyi Rih, at a crosswalk in February. 3 727 20 Previously in trend: Traffic accidents involving judges
Ruscists strike Kharkiv: six injured including infant, museum damaged. PHOTOS (updated) On Sunday, 14 June, Russian invaders launched a drone strike on the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv. Six people were injured in the enemy attack, including a 1-month-old infant. 2 407 7 Previously in trend: Drone attack on Kharkiv
Government is preparing additional grants for communities near front line, - Svyrydenko The government is currently working to increase financial support for communities near the front line. 957 14 Previously in trend: heating season Support for frontline communities
Car and minibus collide in Kharkiv: three children injured A traffic accident occurred on Heroiv Kharkova Avenue in Kharkiv, injuring six people. 989 0 Previously in trend: Road accident in Kharkiv region
Teenagers threw explosive objects into bonfire in Sumy region: two injured Two teenagers in the Sumy region were injured in an explosion of unknown objects. The incident occurred in the Konotop community, where children found explosive objects and threw them into a bonfire. 680 1
Bosnia and Herzegovina to join coalition for return of Ukrainian children Bosnia and Herzegovina will become a new member of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. 380 1 Previously in trend: Coalition in support of Ukraine
Forced evacuation of children expanded in Sloviansk: three more microdistricts will be evacuated In Sloviansk, Donetsk region, the zone of mandatory forced evacuation of families with children has been expanded. It now includes the Slovkurort, Cherevkivka, and Khimik microdistricts. 1 100 9 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region
Mandatory evacuation zone for families with children in Kramatorsk community in Donetsk region has been extended In the Kramatorsk community, the area subject to compulsory evacuation of families with children has been extended. 533 2 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region
Kyiv road accident: 12-year-old boy, two men and woman killed, investigation launched, Prosecutor General’s Office says A criminal investigation has been launched into the fatal road accident in Kyiv on June 5, which killed four people, including a 12-year-old boy. 9 423 50 Previously in trend: Fatal traffic accidents car accident in Kyiv
Youth from occupied territories will be able to obtain Ukrainian documents in five countries, - MFA Young Ukrainians who were born in the temporarily occupied territories and do not have a Ukrainian passport will be able to apply for documents to return to Ukraine through a simplified procedure. 1 218 17 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation
Bus carrying schoolchildren overturned in Kharkiv region: there are casualties. PHOTOS Children and teachers were injured in a road accident in the Kharkiv region. 1 752 5
70 billion rubles for propaganda: Russia expands military education for schoolchildren Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, spending on patriotic education in Russia has increased 20-fold: while in 2021 the Russian authorities spent 3.4 billion rubles on these purposes, in 2026 they allocated 70 billion rubles. 674 10 Previously in trend: Russian propaganda Militarization of children in temporarily occupied territories
"Their future has been stolen from them": Zelenskyy stated that Russia has already killed at least 707 Ukrainian children. VIDEO On Thursday, 4 June, as the world marks the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released figures on the losses suffered by the country’s youngest citizens since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion 2 014 31 Previously in trend: Children are victims of war
Russia has returned at least 24 children from temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk region to their families At least 24 children from the temporarily occupied Luhansk region have been placed in foster care or adopted by Russian families since the beginning of the year. 450 1 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia
Death toll from attack on Dnipro rises to 15, including boys aged 3 and 8 and rescuer (updated) In Dnipro, the body of a young boy was recovered from the rubble of a four-storey building. In total, the Russian attack claimed the lives of eight people. 5 658 40 Previously in trend: Attack on Dnipro Murder of children
Russia proposed exchanging abducted Ukrainian children for Russian prisoners of war, - Zelenskyy President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had offered to exchange abducted Ukrainian children for Russian prisoners of war. 1 766 7 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap Abduction of children by Russia
Shelling of children’s playground in Kherson: one child in critical condition. VIDEO Following the Russian shelling of the Shumensky district of Kherson, doctors are continuing to treat the affected family, including two children who are in varying conditions of severity. 2 550 7 Previously in trend: Shelling of Kherson
Russians attack playground in Kherson with MLRS: mother and two children injured, father killed On the evening of 27 May, Russian forces attacked a playground in Kherson with multiple-launch rocket systems. A mother and her two daughters, aged six and three, were injured, and their father was killed. 1 877 6 Previously in trend: Shelling of Kherson
Propagandist Baranets called for killing of Ukrainian children: "So that these scum know what human grief is". VIDEO Kremlin propaganda has once again demonstrated its terrorist nature by openly calling for the genocide and murder of Ukrainian citizens. According to Censor.NET, Russian military analyst and retired colonel Viktor Baranets made yet another barbaric statement on air. 11 286 43 Previously in trend: Russian propaganda
Four Ukrainian children brought back from TOT in Kherson region Four more children have been brought back from the temporarily occupied territory (TOT). 338 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation
2,318 children remain actively missing in Ukraine since start of full-scale war Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 2,318 children have been actively listed as missing in Ukraine. 394 1 Previously in trend: Children are victims of war Protection of children’s rights
791 children killed in Ukraine since start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Lubinets says Since the start of the full-scale invasion, at least 15,850 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, including 791 children. This is more than the population of many Ukrainian villages and small towns. 532 3 Previously in trend: Children are victims of war Murder of children
Death toll from Russian strike on Pryluky rises to 3: wounded 15-year-old boy dies in hospital. PHOTO A missile strike on Pryluky in the Chernihiv region has already claimed the lives of three people. A wounded young man has died in the hospital. 4 542 4 Previously in trend: Shelling of Chernihiv region
Two more children and teenager brought back from Kherson region’s temporarily occupied territory and Russia Two more children and a teenager have been brought back to Ukrainian-controlled territory from the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, and Russia, under the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 514 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation
In temporarily occupied Luhansk region, 3,000 teenagers were trained for Russian army in two years, - RMA In the occupied Luhansk region, approximately 3,000 teenagers and young adults have been trained over the past two years to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. 1 033 24 Previously in trend: Militarization of children in temporarily occupied territories
Family of fallen defender lived in destroyed building: one daughter died, other is being searched for. PHOTO On the night of 13 May, a Russian missile destroyed a residential building in the Darnytskyi district of the capital, where the late Ukrainian defender Yevhen Yakovlev, known by the call sign "Ryzhyi", had previously lived. His younger daughter was killed in the strike, and the search for his... 7 400 32 Previously in trend: Massive combined attack
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