Today Ukraine observes the Day for the Protection of Children — and for the first time, together with the international community, on World Children’s Day.

On this day we draw the international community’s attention to the Russian Federation’s systematic and grave violations of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and relevant UN resolutions

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, at least 668 children have been killed and 2,253 wounded as a result of Russia’s full-scale aggression. These figures do not fully reflect the real situation in areas of active hostilities.

A further testament to Russia’s terror against Ukrainian children was the massive missile strike on Ternopil on 19 November. Of the 26 civilians killed, three were children. Eighteen children were wounded.

The fate of 2,245 Ukrainian children who are considered missing since the beginning of Russia’s aggression remains unknown. Nearly 1.6 million children in temporarily occupied territories are exposed to constant danger. At least 19,546 deported or forcibly displaced children have been officially documented, including 4,390 orphans and children deprived of parental care.

Following deportation, Russia systematically alters children’s citizenship, places them under “temporary guardianship,” or facilitates unlawful adoptions, relocating children to at least 21 regions of the Russian Federation. More than 500 individuals and institutions are implicated in these violations.

The return of every illegally deported Ukrainian child is an unconditional priority for Ukraine.

As part of this priority, Ukraine initiated a draft resolution of the UN General Assembly entitled "Return of Ukrainian children". The document condemns the illegal deportation, forcible displacement and forced assimilation of children, demands their immediate and unconditional return, and calls on the Russian Federation to fully comply with international humanitarian law.

The document also refers to the latest annual report of the UN Secretary-General on  “Children and Armed Conflict,” in which the Russian armed forces and affiliated groups have, for the third consecutive year, been listed for committing grave violations against children. In this regard, the document calls on the UN Secretariat to restrict Russia’s participation in peacekeeping operations.

To ensure effective tracing and return of children, Ukraine has established a centralized database that enables their verification, location, and rturn.  The key instrument is the Bring Kids Back UA platform, which coordinates the return of children, their medical and psychological rehabilitation, and reintegration into their family environment.  To date, 1,819 children have been returned home. Our principle remains unchanged: to bring every abducted Ukrainian child back.

Ukraine, together with Canada, has intensified international efforts by creating the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. On the eve of World Children's Day, the member countries of the Coalition issued a joint statement calling on Russia to provide information on all children under its control and to ensure immediate access for international mechanisms to their places of detention.

Every child has an inalienable right to a peaceful and safe childhood. In the context of armed conflict, protecting children’s rights is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative for every state. The international community must act decisively and consistently to uphold children’s rights, prevent grave violations in armed conflicts, and ensure that no child becomes a victim of aggression or violence.

Ukraine expresses its gratitude to all states, international organisations, humanitarian partners, and human rights institutions for supporting efforts to return Ukrainian children and protect their rights.

We call on international partners to intensify diplomatic pressure on Russia and to take comprehensive measures to protect Ukrainian children from the horrors of war, to search for, verify, and secure the return of all unlawfully deported Ukrainian children. Our common duty is to ensure that every child returns home.