Russian occupying authorities plan to take over 4,500 children from the temporarily occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia under the pretext of “recovery,” according to the National Resistance Center of Ukraine. This is part of a broader campaign of forced deportations, with reports confirming that in 2024 alone, around 40,000 Ukrainian children were sent to so-called “re education” camps in Russia. Many of these children undergo propaganda and military training, while some never return home.
The large scale abduction of Ukrainian children is a direct violation of international law and an attempt to erase Ukrainian identity. Occupying forces use various deceptive tactics, including promises of health treatments or cultural exchange programmes, to lure families into handing over their children. In reality, these young Ukrainians are subjected to ideological indoctrination and military preparation designed to assimilate them into Russian society.
Collaborators in the Russian controlled areas of Zaporizhzhia have already announced plans for summer 2025, confirming the systematic nature of this operation. Russia’s actions have drawn widespread international condemnation, with Ukrainian officials calling for urgent intervention. The forced relocation and re education of Ukrainian children mirrors historical practices of ethnic cleansing, aimed at erasing Ukraine’s future generations.
Despite the Kremlin’s attempts to legitimise these deportations, Ukraine continues its efforts to bring back its abducted citizens. Through initiatives like Bring Kids Back UA, Ukrainian authorities have managed to return over 1,200 children who were forcibly taken to Russia or occupied territories. However, thousands remain missing, and the risk to those still under occupation grows with each passing day.
