Ukraine has managed to return 1,223 children out of the nearly 20,000 whom Russia deported or illegally transferred. However, the actual number of abducted children may be much higher, as Russia conceals information and blocks humanitarian access.
The issue of returning children and their reintegration was a key topic at the international forum in Vilnius, where Ukrainian and international partners discussed joint efforts to address this problem.
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Ukraine has already developed a reintegration mechanism that brings together all responsible services. Children return to their families or find a new family through adoption or foster care. In 2024, 1,268 children found new parents, a record for the last five years.
For the first time at the national level, the government is purchasing social services to support families and launching a programme to help children with disabilities, including day care, inclusive support and access to education.
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