Bring Kids Back UA

“Thousands of our children still must be brought back, and we count on broad international support to make it possible. Thank you to everybody who is helping.”

— @ZelenskyyUa, President of Ukraine

#BringKidsBack 🇺🇦

🇸🇰 Slovakia has joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children as its 53rd member.

Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár emphasized that protecting children must be a shared priority and that joining the Coalition builds on Slovakia’s longstanding support for Ukrainian children.

Slovakia has already provided €300,000 to rebuild six shelters in schools and kindergartens in Chernihiv and Sumy regions.

Maksym Maksymov, Head of Bring Kids Back UA, emphasized that the Coalition’s expansion opens more diplomatic channels, increases pressure on Russia and provides more tools for children’s return, rehabilitation and reintegration.

We thank Slovakia for its support and commitment to bringing Ukrainian children home.

Russia must immediately, safely and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children it has unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred. Our work continues until every child is home.

#BringKidsBack

🇺🇦🇦🇩 President @ZelenskyyUa and Andorra’s Prime Minister @XavierEspot discussed concrete steps Andorra can take to help bring home Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Their teams agreed to connect and work together.

2,790 Ukrainian children have already been returned from Russian control. Every return requires tracing a child, verifying information and overcoming Russia’s obstruction. Thousands more still need to be brought home.

We thank President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora for advancing these efforts, and the Vatican, our partners in the Middle East, and every country, organisation and team helping Ukrainian children return.

Every diplomatic channel matters. Every partner can help bring another child home.

Russia must immediately, safely and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children it has unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred.

Our work continues until every child is home.

#BringKidsBack #ChildrenAreNonNegotiable

Bohdan was 17 when he received a summons from a Russian military recruitment office in occupied Crimea. Then came the threat to send him to the front line.

He fled Crimea and spent nearly two years in hiding. Without his Ukrainian documents, he struggled to find a way home. In 2025, he managed to return briefly to Crimea and retrieve his birth certificate.

On New Year’s Eve, with help from the NGO Compass of Dreams, Bohdan reached Ukrainian government-controlled territory. He received temporary housing and financial support, later moved into social housing in Kyiv, and applied for his first Ukrainian passport.

Now 20, Bohdan plans to find work and continue his studies.

In occupied Ukrainian territories, Russia uses schools and youth groups to prepare children for military service. Bohdan’s story shows how early the threat of being sent to war can become real.

Share his story so more people know that young Ukrainians can get help leaving occupied territories and building a life in safety.

#BringKidsBack

youtu.be/wzxeHop8TVM?fe…

Ahead of Día de Muertos, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Mexico, Serhii Pohoreltsev, draws on Mexico’s tradition of remembrance to honour Ukrainian children killed by Russia and call for justice.

In his new op-ed for Excélsior, he also addresses Russia’s systematic deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children, attempts to erase their identity, and the work of Bring Kids Back UA to bring them home.

We thank Ambassador Pohoreltsev for keeping Ukrainian children’s rights in focus and bringing this urgent message to readers in Mexico.

Remembering must go hand in hand with action: returning every child and holding those responsible accountable.

Ukrainian children are non-negotiable.

Read the full op-ed in Spanish: excelsior.com.mx/opinion/serhii…

#BringKidsBack