Russia continues to transfer Ukrainian children in smaller groups – Bring Kids Back UA
Russia continues to relocate Ukrainian children; however, compared to the early years of the full-scale war, it is employing different mechanisms, specifically, transfer to camps, sending children to Russia for "education," separation from parents during "filtration" procedures, and the appointment of Russian guardians, according to Maksym Maksymov, head of the presidential initiative Bring Kids…
In 2026, Ukraine successfully brought back 673 children, bringing the total number of returned children to 2,616 as of September 21, according to Maksym Maksymov, head of the presidential initiative Bring Kids Back UA. The children returned this year include those who were deported, forcibly displaced, or in temporarily occupied territories facing the threat of deportation, Maksymov stated during an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Maksymov emphasized that there is no consistent rate of return, as each case is a unique operation, and the number of children returning each month depends on various factors such as the stage of proceedings, accessibility, and the Russian side's behavior. By the end of 2025, 1,943 children had been returned, and by the end of May 2026, the figure had risen to 2,191.
As of September 21, the count reached 2,616, with 248 children returned in the first five months of the year and an additional 425 between the end of May and September 21. Compared to last year, where 725 children were returned over the entire year, this year's returns in under nine months have already surpassed that figure. Maksymov expressed optimism that the total number of children returned in 2026 will exceed last year's count.
Written by urgent.news from Interfax-Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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