Nearly 50 countries join Ukraine’s coalition to return children abducted by Russia

Switzerland and Cyprus have joined Ukraine’s International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, expanding the group to nearly 50 countries, according to the Office of the President of Ukraine.

The coalition, launched in February 2024 and supported by the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, now reports over 2,100 children returned to Ukraine. Officials say efforts will continue on tracking, recovery, and reintegration, while keeping the issue on international political and media agendas.

Ukraine steps up efforts to locate and return abducted children

The announcement was made during a video address by Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the coalition’s high-level meeting on 11 May. Zelenskyy said the priority remains documenting the whereabouts of deported children and tracing the full chain of their abduction and concealment.

He stressed that Russia’s actions amount to the forced removal of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children, followed by attempts to erase their identity and sever family ties. He said such crimes require a coordinated international response rather than isolated national efforts.

Coalition broadens global participation and coordination

Zelenskyy noted that the coalition now includes states across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, including Canada, the United States, Argentina, Japan, and members of the European Union. He thanked partners for supporting ongoing recovery and reintegration efforts.

He also confirmed that the International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and other individuals linked to the deportation of Ukrainian children remain in force. Kyiv continues to frame the issue as a legal case with global jurisdiction and consequences.

Allies announce new sanctions targeting deportation and indoctrination networks

The United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union have also announced new sanctions packages targeting Russian officials and entities involved in child abductions. These measures are intended to increase pressure on Moscow and limit operational networks tied to the deportation program.

The UK sanctioned 85 targets and said it is also funding efforts to trace and return abducted minors, while the EU imposed measures on 16 individuals and seven entities involved in deportation, re-education, and military-style programmes for children in occupied territories. Canada added 23 individuals and five entities, bringing its total to more than 80 sanctioned actors over their roles in unlawful child transfers and related abuses.