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The situation for children in Ukraine's conflict zones is dire, with many young lives affected by war and occupation. The government, led by President Zelenskyy, has implemented the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, successfully rescuing hundreds of children from Russian-occupied areas. However, challenges persist as reports reveal disturbing trends of child abduction and abuse, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention and stronger policies. Efforts are underway to provide psychological support to children impacted by conflict. With ongoing diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid, Ukraine remains committed to protecting its youngest citizens and reuniting families torn apart by war.

What is the Bring Kids Back UA initiative in Ukraine?

The Bring Kids Back UA initiative is a program by the Ukrainian government aimed at rescuing and returning children who have been displaced or abducted during the conflict with occupying forces. It focuses on reuniting families and providing necessary support for the children, including medical and psychological care.

How are Ukrainian children affected by the conflict?

Ukrainian children in conflict zones face numerous challenges, including abduction, exposure to violence, and lack of access to education. Many have experienced psychological trauma, with about 44% showing signs of PTSD. Efforts are ongoing to address these issues through humanitarian aid and specialized support systems.

What are the main threats to children in occupied Ukrainian territories?

In occupied Ukrainian territories, children face dangers such as forced assimilation, abduction, and even exposure to psychotropic drugs for non-compliance. These threats are compounded by the lack of educational opportunities and the constant risk of violence and exploitation by occupying forces.

What international actions are being taken to help Ukrainian children?

International actions include diplomatic efforts, financial aid, and sanctions against those responsible for crimes against Ukrainian children. Countries like Qatar have assisted in returning abducted children. Diplomatic discussions, such as those involving the OSCE, aim to facilitate the safe return and protection of these vulnerable children.

How is the Ukrainian government addressing child protection amid the war?

The Ukrainian government is actively working to protect children through initiatives like Bring Kids Back UA, strengthening legal frameworks for child protection, and engaging with international partners for comprehensive support. These efforts include psychological aid, family reunification, and ensuring safety and security for all affected children.

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News children

Zelenskyy Ukraine hands Russia list of nearly 400 abducted children – Zelenskyy During negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, the Ukrainian delegation handed the Russian side a list of nearly 400 abducted children. 444 1 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia

Medinskiy’s reaction to the proposal to hand over abducted children to Ukraine Medinskiy reacts cynically to proposal to return abducted children to Ukraine - Economist The head of the Russian delegation at the talks in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinskiy, reacted sharply to Ukraine's proposal to return the abducted children. 15 596 36 Previously in trend: negotiations with Russia Negotiations in Turkey

Shelling of the Zaporizhzhia region on 31 May Russian forces struck village in Zaporizhzhia region with KABs, killing 9-year-old girl and wounding 16-year-old boy. PHOTO One child was killed and another wounded as a result of hostile attacks on the village of Dolyna, Polohy district, Zaporizhzhia region. 1 548 1

Another 10 children were brought back from the TOT Russia forcibly transferred 30 more Ukrainian orphans from Luhansk region for adoption – NRC Another 30 Ukrainian orphans were forcibly transferred from the temporarily occupied Luhansk region to Russia for further adoption. 362 2 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia

Another 15 children returned from Russian occupation Another 11 children were returned from Russian-occupied territories As part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, 11 more Ukrainian children have been brought home from the territories temporarily occupied by Russia. 489 6 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Farewell to the children, funeral Zhytomyr region bids farewell to 17-year-old Roman, 12-year-old Tamara, and 8-year-old Stanislav Martyniuk, killed in Russian attack. PHOTOS On Wednesday, May 28, three children who were killed during Russia’s massive overnight attack on May 25 were laid to rest in Korostyshiv, Zhytomyr region. The local community bid farewell to 17-year-old Roman, 12-year-old Tamara, and 8-year-old Stanislav Martyniuk — all from the same family. 4 360 35 Previously in trend: Farewell to the killed children of the Martyniuk family

Dmytro Lubinets and Qatari Ambassador to Ukraine Hadi Nasser Al-Hajri Lubinets: With Qatar’s support, 68 Ukrainian children have been brought home With Qatar’s support, Ukraine has managed to bring home a total of 68 children. 281 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Children killed At Korostyshev Lyceum, they spoke about children killed by Russia: 11th grader Roman, 6th grader Tamara, and 3rd grader Stanislav Martyniuk will never sit at their desks again. PHOTO Today, on 25 May 2025, three children were killed in a brutal night attack in the Zhytomyr region: eleventh-grader Roman, sixth-grader Tamara and third-grader Stanislav. 11 899 43

massive attack on May 25 Klymenko on night attack: 13 regions were hit, 12 people died, among them - three children from one family, their parents were hospitalized During the nighttime massive attack on Ukraine, 13 regions came under Russian attack: Kyiv city, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, and Poltava regions. 3 183 32 Previously in trend: Massive strike on May 25, 2025

National Resistance Center Occupiers deport children from Kherson region to Russian camps for "re-education" – NRC Russian occupation administrations are continuing the forced deportation of children from temporarily occupied areas of Kherson region to Russia. 766 5 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas Russia’s impact on children under occupation

Another 9 children returned from occupied territories Another 9 children brought back from occupied territories – Presidential Office Another nine Ukrainian children have been rescued from temporarily occupied territories as part of President Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 433 5 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Recruitment of children by Russians for arson attacks Almost 50 children reported to police about Russian attempts to recruit them More and more children are reporting to the police about Russian attempts to recruit them through messengers and social media. 2 836 10 Previously in trend: Recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers by Russia

Evacuation of children 371 children remain in mandatory evacuation zone in Donetsk region 273 families with 371 children remain in the mandatory evacuation zone in the Donetsk region 293 0 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

Evacuation of children Mandatory evacuation zone for families with children expanded in Donetsk region On Tuesday, May 13, a mandatory evacuation was announced for children and their parents from eight settlements of the Druzhkivka community in Donetsk region. 671 1 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

Return of children from occupation Nine more Ukrainian children brought back from Russian-occupied territories As part of President Zelenskyy's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, nine more Ukrainian children have been brought back from Russian-occupied territories. 295 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Victims of the Russian strike on Velyka Chernechchyna on 6 May Six-year-old Borys Zinchenko and 20-year-old Nataliia Velykhovska killed in Russian strike on Sumy region on May 6. PHOTO Among the victims of the Russian missile strike on Velyka Chernechchyna, Sumy region, on 6 May were six-year-old Borys Zinchenko and 20-year-old Nataliia Velykhovska. 6 697 33 Previously in trend: Children are victims of war Shelling of Sumy region Civilian casualties in Ukraine

Woman in Odesa region faces life imprisonment for murder of infant Mother strangled her 9-month-old daughter in Odesa region: court left woman in custody without right to bail, - National Police. PHOTO Investigators detained a woman suspected of murdering her daughter under the age of one in the Yaskivska community of Odesa district. 2 743 15 Previously in trend: Murder of children

return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia Ukraine launches information campaign to return Ukrainian children taken by Russia Today, May 5, a national and international initiative was launched in Ukraine in response to the illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. 352 4 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Abduction of children by Russia

Children are taken abroad because of mobilization. What the Ministry of Education and Science says Taking 17-year-old son abroad out of fear of mobilization is irrational panic – Ministry of Education and Science Ukraine has no plans to lower the age for military mobilization, making parental concerns about drafting 18-year-olds unfounded. 6 925 40 Previously in trend: mobilization

Six Ukrainian children brought back from Russian occupation Six Ukrainian children brought back from Russian occupation As part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, six more Ukrainian children were returned from the Russian occupation. 340 0 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Evacuation of children announced in two villages in Donetsk region Mandatory evacuation of children announced in two villages in Donetsk region Mandatory evacuation of children and their parents or legal guardians begins in two villages of the Shakhivska community, Donetsk region 431 0 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

Abduction of a 6-year-old girl Man charged after attempted abduction of 6-year-old girl in Kyiv region – police Kyiv region police have filed charges against a taxi driver who attempted to abduct a six-year-old girl in the village of Byshiv on May 1. 1 670 4 Previously in trend: Kidnapping of children

Kidnapping of 6-year-old girl Man tried to kidnap 6-year-old girl in Kyiv region: child escaped, attacker was detained, - National Police. PHOTOS In the village of Byshiv, Kyiv region, an unknown man forced a 6-year-old girl into the car of a Peugeot in an attempt to kidnap her. The child was not confused, opened the door and escaped. 3 994 7 Previously in trend: Kidnapping of children

Evacuation in Donetsk region 28,000 residents, including 193 children, live in zone of active hostilities in Donetsk region As of the end of April 2025, more than 280,600 civilians remained living in the government-controlled area of the Donetsk region. Among them are 21,468 children. 287 0 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

child has been killed Night strike on Dnipropetrovsk region: 12-year-old Marharyta Titarenko killed. PHOTO A 12-year-old Marharyta Titarenko died as a result of an enemy strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region. 7 052 29

Sumy region Over 48,000 residents evacuated from Sumy border region – RMA As of today, April 28, a total of 48,612 people, including 7,668 children, have been evacuated from the border settlements of Sumy region. 877 7 Previously in trend: Evacuation from border of Sumy region

622 children died in Ukraine as result of war 622 children have died since start of full-scale war in Ukraine - Prosecutor General’s Office Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 622 children have been killed and more than 1,924 injured. 279 1 Previously in trend: Children are victims of war

Donetsk region 193 children remain in area of active hostilities in Donetsk region Currently, 193 children remain in the communities of the Donetsk region, which are classified as the zone of active hostilities. 232 1 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

In Kyiv, group of teenagers beat soldier Beating of serviceman in Hydropark: four teenagers are served with notice of suspicion Four teenagers who beat up a serviceman in Hydropark in Kyiv have been notified of suspicion of hooliganism committed by a group of people (Part 2 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). 6 361 36

Ukraine returns 449 children home thanks to Bring Kids Back UA initiativ 41 countries have already joined coalition for return of Ukrainian children - OP Currently, 41 countries have joined the International Coalition working to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. 2 536 4 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation Abduction of children by Russia

evacuation 207 children remain in zone of mandatory evacuation in Donetsk region At present, 160 families with 207 children remain in the settlements of the Donetsk region, where the forced evacuation of children is underway. 229 0 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

National Resistance Center In occupied Henichesk, Russians are preparing schoolchildren for war – NRC In the temporarily occupied Henichesk, representatives of the Kremlin's Znanie society are preparing schoolchildren for war under the guise of "career guidance classes". 1 582 2 Previously in trend: Russia’s impact on children under occupation

Lubinets and Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulayfi on the return of Ukrainian children Lubinets and Qatari Foreign Minister discuss return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets met with Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi in Qatar to discuss the return of Ukrainian children and civilians from the occupied territories and Russia. 252 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Teenager stabbed to death in Frankivsk Three minors killed 19-year-old boy in Ivano-Frankivsk - National Police Police in Ivano-Frankivsk region have identified minors involved in the murder of a local resident. 16 866 52 Previously in trend: Teenagers killed boy in Ivano-Frankivsk

13-year-old Kyrylo helped people escape from burning bus in Sumy after Russian strike 13-year-old Kyrylo from Sumy helped people escape burning bus after Russian strike: "I just did what I could. PHOTO In Sumy, 13-year-old Kyrylo Ilyashenko escaped from a burning bus after a Russian missile strike on 13 April and helped other passengers escape. 6 692 23 Previously in trend: Strike on Sumy

Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih is a war crime Foreign Ministry spokesman Tykhyi: Social network X is silencing Russian war crimes. Since when is number of Ukrainian children killed by Russia considered "shocking content"? The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhii Tykhyi, criticized the social network X of American billionaire Elon Musk for labeling publications about the number of Ukrainian children killed by Russia as "shocking content." 1 380 4 Previously in trend: X is silencing the war crimes of russia

Two teenagers brought back from occupation and Russia Two Ukrainian teenagers brought back from Russian occupation – OP Two more Ukrainian teenagers have been rescued from Russian-occupied territories and the Russian Federation as part of President Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 355 0 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Evacuation from Donetsk region 21,500 children remain in Ukraine-controlled areas of Donetsk region, there are families who return after evacuation As of today, about 283,000 people, including 21,500 children, remain living in the government-controlled areas of the Donetsk region. In nine settlements where families with children are being forcibly evacuated, 254 children remain. There are also cases when families with children who were previously evacuated return home. 459 2 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

Six children were returned from the occupation. Details Another 6 children were returned from occupation. Father of one of boys died after being tortured by Russian military - OP Ukraine has returned six more children from the Russian-occupied territories. 1 055 2 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs UN: Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih was deadliest for children in three years of war The Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih on April 4 was the most deadly for children since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. 1 771 10 Previously in trend: Missile attack on Kryvyi Rih

Funeral for dead children in Kryvyi Rih Farewell to 3-year-old Tymofii, killed in Russian strike, is held in Kryvyi Rih. PHOTOS Today, on 8 April 2025, a boy named Timofii, who died as a result of a Russian missile attack on the city, is being buried in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region. 6 316 19 Previously in trend: Missile attack on Kryvyi Rih

Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih 7-year-olds Arina and Radyslav died as a result of the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih. PHOTO On 4 April 2025, a boy, Radislav, and a girl, Arina, died as a result of an enemy ballistic missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region. 8 900 22 Previously in trend: Missile attack on Kryvyi Rih

616 children died as result of Russian aggression 616 children killed and over 1,863 injured in Ukraine as result of Russian armed aggression In Ukraine, more than 2,479 children have suffered as a result of Russia's full-scale armed aggression. As of the morning of April 5, 2025, according to official information from juvenile prosecutors, 616 children were killed, and more than 1863 were injured of varying severity. 400 2 Previously in trend: Children are victims of war

Return of children from occupation and Russia Another 11 children returned from occupation and Russia – Lubinets. PHOTOS We managed to return 9 children from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, and two more from Russia. 424 1 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

vaccine Occupiers are testing uncertified vaccines on children in Luhansk region – National Resistance Center In the temporarily occupied territories of the Luhansk region, Russian invaders are massively vaccinating children under 6 with drugs that are not internationally certified. 702 6 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

Return of children from the occupation Daughter and wife of Ukrainian serviceman have been returned from occupation – Office of President The daughter and wife of a Ukrainian serviceman have been returned from temporarily occupied territory as part of the President’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. 1 149 4 Previously in trend: Returning children from occupation

Evacuation of families with children in Donetsk region 488 children currently remain within 15-kilometer mandatory evacuation zone for families with children in Donetsk region – Regional Military Administration In the Donetsk region, 488 children are currently living in the zone of mandatory evacuation of families with children - 15 kilometers from the front line. 212 0 Previously in trend: Evacuation from Donetsk region

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Rubio denies that US has resumed program to investigate abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied media reports that the Conflict Observatory program to search for children illegally deported from Ukraine by Russia to the occupied territories has resumed its work. 2 356 11 Previously in trend: Abduction of children by Russia Investigation of Russian war crimes