In Kyiv, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier. The meeting was also attended by Advisor – Commissioner of the President for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation, Daria Herasymchuk, and Head of the Presidential Initiative Bring Kids Back UA, Maksym Maksymov.
Olena Zelenska stressed that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has killed 697 Ukrainian children, and another 2,450 young Ukrainians have been injured. At least 23 children have been victims of sexual violence. These are not the full figures, but only the cases that victims and families have found the strength to speak about. The true scale of this brutality remains unknown due to the psychological trauma of those affected.
“The annual report prepared by the UN Special Representative on crimes against children is important not only because it documents crimes and identifies those responsible. It prevents the normalization of injustice committed against children around the world,” the President’s wife said.
The First Lady and Maksym Maksymov noted that thanks to the efforts of many countries and individuals, more than 2,000 children have been brought home. The aggressor continues to hold thousands of Ukrainian children.
“The UN General Assembly resolution ‘Return of Ukrainian Children’ gave us hope that even more countries will work in a coordinated way to rescue children. The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which now has 47 members, is ready to provide full support in this effort,” Olena Zelenska said.
The First Lady also emphasized that Russia is actively recruiting children in temporarily occupied territories into its armed forces, building a network of paramilitary organizations and military training structures. Recently, the Russian Federation sentenced three teenagers accused of cooperating with Ukrainian intelligence services. They were detained while still children, and are now being offered the cancellation of their prison sentences in exchange for signing contracts to participate in the war against Ukraine.
“For us, it is extremely important that the world sees and recognizes crimes against Ukrainian children. This gives hope that there will be no impunity and that justice will find those responsible,” the First Lady concluded.