The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, delivered a video address to the participants of the international conference “Bring Kids Back UA: Bringing Ukrainian Children Home,” held in Portugal.
“A lost child is probably every mother’s nightmare. Not knowing whether your child is safe – that uncertainty is terrifying. It is also the fear of nearly every child: to be lost, not knowing when you will see your mother or someone close to you again, not having by your side people you trust. For nearly 20,000 young Ukrainians abducted by Russia, being taken from their homeland is not simply a change of residence. For them, it is almost always isolation, pressure, and systematic attempts to reshape their identity and worldview,” the First Lady emphasized.
The President’s wife spoke about the removal of entire orphanages and children without parental care by Russian forces, about children being taken from their families in temporarily occupied territories, about forced placement in militarized camps in Russia, and about the alteration of children’s personal data, making it impossible to trace them in electronic systems.
“It is horrifying when our children are traded. And that is exactly what the Russians are doing – sorting them for adoption. Russian officials simply arrive at shelters and choose those they like best, as if selecting live merchandise. And the abductors are preparing no less terrifying things for older boys once they reach adulthood. They are conscripted into the Russian army and forced to fight against their own homeland,” Olena Zelenska said.
During a separate panel, children who were returned home thanks to the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and the Ukrainian President's Bring Kids Back UA initiative shared their experiences. The conversation was moderated by Advisor – Commissioner of the President for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation, Daria Herasymchuk.
“I am grateful to every partner helping us bring the children home. These are individuals, organizations, and entire countries. Thanks to our joint efforts, 2,000 children are already back home. But the majority remain in Russia. I truly hope that today’s meeting is another step toward their rescue and return,” the President’s wife concluded.