A delegation of Ukrainian children who were previously abducted by Russian forces met with journalists in Rome on Wednesday, marking a significant moment since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The event, organized by the initiative Bring Kids Back Ukraine, aimed to shed light on the traumatic experiences endured by these children during their captivity.
Accompanied by grandparents and other relatives, the group of children, aged between 14 and 18, recounted their harrowing tales at the Ukrainian Embassy in Rome. Many had been taken from Russian-controlled areas or occupied regions, including parts of the Donetsk region. The initiative, launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seeks to coordinate efforts to return abducted children back to Ukraine.
The testimonies provided by the children revealed the darker side of Russia’s invasion, including systematic propaganda, indoctrination, and in some cases, torture. Their accounts pointed to an organized effort by Russian authorities to erase Ukrainian identity through re-education and Russification. According to Bring Kids Back Ukraine, these operations aim to alter the demographic landscape of occupied territories or to cultivate future soldiers from the youth of Ukraine.
The scale of the issue is alarming. Eleonora Mongelli, vice president of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, stated that approximately 1.6 million Ukrainian children are still under Russian control. To date, Ukraine has successfully repatriated around 1,600 children, with each return facilitated by third-party nations such as Qatar, South Africa, and the Vatican. Ukrainian authorities have documented over 19,500 cases of child abductions since the beginning of the invasion in early 2022, a figure that is likely to be an underrepresentation. Research from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab indicates that the actual number of deported children could be as high as 35,000 as of March 19, 2025.
The children described their experiences in “filtration camps,” a term used to describe facilities where Ukrainian civilians are screened and interrogated. Yuliia Dvornychenko, who spent two years in Russian-occupied territories, highlighted the severe scrutiny individuals face at these camps. “They check for tattoos to see if you carry any Ukrainian symbols,” she shared. “They also go through your phone to see if you have photos or phone numbers of soldiers—anything connected to Ukraine. In both cases, you’re not allowed through, and that can lead to imprisonment.”
This system of filtration often results in families being torn apart. Liudmyla Siryk recounted the ordeal of her grandson, Oleksandr, who was separated from his mother during the process. After being severely injured during shelling in Mariupol, Oleksandr was captured by Russian forces and later deported to occupied Donetsk. He was eventually found and brought back to Ukraine by his grandmother.
The story of Veronika Vlasova further illustrates the trauma faced by abducted children. At just 13 years old, she was forced to flee her village in the Kherson region as Russian forces advanced. After spending months in Russia, she was held in a filtration camp where she was subjected to bullying and forced propaganda. “Russian children bullied me for being Ukrainian,” she stated, adding that local authorities tried to convince her that “Ukraine didn’t exist anymore.”
Veronika was eventually transferred to an orphanage, where she spent two weeks in isolation. Now 16 and back in Kyiv, she continues to cope with the psychological effects of her experience, receiving treatment for several diagnosed conditions.
The long-term consequences of these abductions remain largely unaddressed. Maksym Maksymov, head of projects at Bring Kids Back Ukraine, emphasized that the focus should not only be on the number of children returned but also on the psychological scars they carry. “The Russian Federation wants to ensure that children are taught certain ‘truths’ about the world that make them extremely vulnerable,” he explained. Many children exhibit extreme obedience as a result of their traumatic experiences, losing their sense of free will.
In light of these developments, Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy head of President Zelenskyy’s office, announced that Ukraine aims to formalize the Vatican’s role as a mediator in securing the release of civilians. A letter from Zelenskyy was presented to Pope Francis ahead of an upcoming meeting, requesting that existing initiatives be formalized to enhance the negotiation process with Russia.
The plight of these children highlights an urgent humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold in the wake of conflict, with their experiences serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of war on innocent lives.
