European Parliament urges Russia to return deported Ukrainian children

Members of the European Parliament have demanded that Russia immediately stop the practice of forcibly deporting Ukrainian children, stressing Moscow's full responsibility for safeguarding the rights of children living in territories under its control. In a resolution, European lawmakers condemned Russia's systematic deportation of Ukrainian children, their forcible transfer, illegal adoption, forced Russification, ideological indoctrination and militarization during the war. MEPs called on Russia to immediately, safely and unconditionally return all deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children from territories under its control to Ukraine free from occupation. According to Brussels calculations, as of September 2026, more than 20,000 cases of deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia have been confirmed. As of October this year, around 2,700 children who had been deported, forcibly taken away or evacuated from occupied territories have been returned. The text states that returning the children is an obligation under international law. ...cannot be used as a subject of political bargaining or linked to territorial concessions, prisoner exchanges or other political agreements.