President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative has succeeded in bringing home 1359 Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia. This was announced by Daria Zarivna, the initiative’s Chief Operating Officer and Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office, during the discussion The Fight to Return Ukraine’s Stolen Children at the GLOBSEC 2025 security forum in Prague.
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According to her, the issue of returning children goes beyond a humanitarian issue and concerns global security. She stressed that Russia is militarising Ukrainian children in the occupied territories and preparing them for military service, which is a gross violation of international law and a potential threat to the world in the future. Zarivna warned that if this practice is not stopped, it could become a precedent for future military conflicts.
The counsellor also said that each child receives comprehensive support after returning, including individual support plans, work with psychologists, social workers, lawyers and teachers. According to her, the reintegration process is critically important and is seen as part of long-term systemic assistance.
During the discussion, attention was also drawn to the need to return the children whose names were included in the initial list that Ukraine handed over to Russia as part of the talks in Istanbul on confidence-building measures.
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