Russia must return stolen Ukrainian children

The EPP Group demands that Russia immediately, safely and unconditionally return all forcibly deported Ukrainian children. On the EPP Group’s initiative, the European Parliament will today debate the plight of the 1.6 million Ukrainian children estimated to remain under Russian control, ahead of a vote on a subsequent Resolution on Thursday. 

Ewa Kopacz MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament and lead negotiator on the Resolution, insists that the perpetrators and enablers of these cruel crimes against Ukrainian families and children must face justice. 

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, approximately 770 children have been killed and 3,000 wounded. We stand with Ukraine in mourning the loss of these innocent young lives and extend our sympathy to the families torn apart by Russian brutality. 

Of the 1.6 million children who were stolen from Ukraine, a little over 2,700 children have been rescued from Russian capture and the extreme indoctrination they were subjected to. The children returned with acute psychological trauma, severe anxiety and, in some cases, signs of physical and sexual abuse. 

"Their safe return should be a core priority in all diplomatic initiatives or negotiations aiming to end Russia's illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine. We, in the EPP Group, will not rest until the abducted Ukrainian children are brought home," stressed MEP Kopacz.