A joint meeting of the Human Rights, Gender Equality and Diversity Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the President’s initiative Bring Kids Back UA took place this week in Kyiv. The central focus was the return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Ukrainian children affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Participants discussed the systemic crimes committed by Russia against Ukrainian children, including forced deportation, unlawful transfer, illegal passportization and adoption, and militarization. These acts are not isolated incidents — they are part of a targeted Kremlin strategy to erase Ukrainian identity and destroy the Ukrainian nation.
Speaking at the meeting, Daria Zarivna, COO of Bring Kids Back, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, outlined the initiative’s key areas of work:
“This is a systematic effort that unites state authorities, civil society, and international partners,” Zarivna said. “But no system can succeed without political will and broad-based support. Today’s meeting is a powerful example of such support — and a reminder that the fate of Ukrainian children must remain central to the global conversation and the peace process.”
She emphasized that the return of each child is not just a humanitarian task — it is a prerequisite for a just peace.
The Bring Kids Back UA initiative will continue to work in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions, and international organizations to ensure that every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia is returned home.