European Parliament adopts resolution urging Russia to return deported Ukrainian children
According to the resolution, authorities had confirmed 20,651 cases of deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia as of September 2026.
Data from the president's Bring Kids Back UA initiative indicates that Ukraine has managed to return 2,808 children to date.
At the same time, MEPs estimate that approximately 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain in Russian-occupied territories, where they face systematic Russification, ideological indoctrination, and militarization.
The European Parliament demands that Russia immediately, safely, and unconditionally return all deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to Ukrainian territory.
In addition, the European Parliament recognizes that Russia's actions against Ukrainian children meet the legal definition of genocide and calls on EU member states to officially recognize them as such. The resolution also proposes expanding sanctions to encompass the entire Russian system enabling these crimes.
The European Parliament emphasizes that the return of Ukrainian children cannot be the subject of political bargaining or territorial concessions during peace negotiations.
Background
The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children brings together nearly 50 countries. Switzerland and Cyprus joined in May 2026. Its members work to investigate the deportations, bring children back, and help them rebuild their lives with their families.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has said Ukraine must track down every child and establish where they are, trace how the children were taken and how Russia has tried to conceal the deportations, bring them back, and help them rebuild their lives.
On May 11, 2026, the Council of the European Union imposed new sanctions on 16 individuals and seven organizations responsible for deporting Ukrainian children to Russia.
Earlier, the United Kingdom sanctioned 85 individuals and organizations involved in the deportation, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children. The list included 29 people linked to Russia's campaign to deport and forcibly militarize Ukrainian children, as well as 56 people responsible for the Kremlin's information warfare.
Canada has also expanded sanctions against Russia over the abduction and indoctrination of Ukrainian children through propaganda. Canada said that "the illegal deportation and forced transfer of children are serious violations of international law and human rights."
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14 of November 2026
