UN Demands Russia Return All Forcibly Taken Ukrainian Children

Result of the General Assembly vote on a draft resolution on return of Ukrainian children.

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday demanded, by a wide margin, that Russia immediately and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported since the start of the war.

The draft resolution, presented during the emergency special session, was adopted with 91 votes in favour, 12 against and 57 abstentions, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of members present and voting.

The resolution expresses deep concern over the fate of Ukrainian children separated from their families since 2014 – when Moscow annexed Crimea – including those moved within occupied Ukrainian territory and those deported to Russia.

It describes these acts as violations of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the forcible transfer or deportation of protected persons from occupied territory.

Detailed resolution

It “demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported,” and urges Moscow to halt any further deportations, family separations, changes of citizenship, adoptions, foster placements, or indoctrination.

The text also calls on the UN Secretary-General to strengthen his good offices, including through his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, to coordinate UN action, engage with Russia on locating the children, and ensure access for international monitoring and humanitarian agencies.

It further expresses support for international initiatives to secure the prompt return of Ukrainian children and to assist their rehabilitation and reintegration, including access to healthcare, psychosocial support and education.

Abducted at gunpoint

Opening the meeting, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the ordeal endured by Ukrainian children taken from their homes.

“Imagine you’re a 16-year-old going about your day […] when suddenly soldiers armed with machine guns and wearing balaclavas burst into your home,” she said.

“They force you into a vehicle and drive you away in an unknown direction, leaving you trapped for months in a nightmare, with a different name.”

She emphasised that international law is clear.

“What we are witnessing is not merely a tragedy for some children but a violation of international law,” Ms Baerbock said, citing Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Question of humanity

Presenting the draft, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa said the text was “not about politics... it is about humanity.”

Amid Russia’s ongoing aggression, she said, children have been killed, injured, raped, separated from their families and deported.

“It is unimaginable that someone could view children as war trophies,” she said, adding that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia.

“Not a single child should be separated from their family,” she stressed.

‘Cynical lie’

Russia rejected the resolution as politically motivated. Ambassador Maria Zabolotskaya, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said the meeting undermined peace efforts and described the resolution as a “particularly cynical lie.”

She insisted Moscow remained open to cooperation on children’s issues and urged all States to oppose the text.

“Each vote for the resolution is support for lies, war and confrontation,” she said.

Through the resolution, the General Assembly also decided to temporarily adjourn its emergency special session, authorising the Assembly President to reconvene it at the request of Member States.