European Parliament calls for return of Ukrainian children abducted to Russia

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, at least 20 000 Ukrainian children have been deported - to Russia, Belarus or the occupied territories, according to official figures. Most of them are still missing. MEPs have described these acts as part of a genocidal strategy aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity.

Parliament demands that Russia publish the names and fates of all the abducted children and allow their safe and unconditional return home. It also calls for international organisations such as UNICEF, the Red Cross or the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to be able to contact all children detained on Russian territory.

Strong criticism is also directed at the forced granting of Russian citizenship and adoptions to Russian families. According to MEPs, this is an attempt at forced assimilation that violates international law.

Parliament is therefore calling for the extension of sanctions against the persons and institutions involved in these practices, and recalls that the International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova.

Any peaceful solution to the conflict with Russia must, according to MEPs, include not only the return of the abducted children, but also justice and punishment for those responsible for the crimes. The EU should continue to support Ukraine and organisations helping to trace the victims.