The Polish government, together with the European Commission, outlined ongoing support programs for Ukraine focused on recovering children who were deported, with involvement from children’s rights guardians at the national and European levels. This initiative was announced during a press conference in Warsaw by the Minister of European Affairs and the Polish Ombudsman for Children’s Rights. They presented a joint plan aimed at addressing the issue of Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia and are now being tracked for possible return.
The Polish minister emphasized that the world has faced more than a year of consequences stemming from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. He highlighted that the most severe human, economic, and social burdens of the conflict fall squarely on Ukraine and its people, and he condemned the crimes of genocide carried out by Russian forces in both the war zone and the occupied territories. The discussion also stressed that these acts include the deportation of Ukrainian children, adding a legal dimension to the charges against the aggressors.
Strategies for locating and recovering deported children
According to the minister, Ukraine currently identifies approximately 19,500 children who were deported, with only around 370 of them having been recovered to date. He noted that Belarus is actively involved in similar efforts, complicating regional reconciliation. The minister remarked that the fate of the deported children resonates with Poland’s own historical experiences, and those reflections helped shape the government’s decision to intensify participation in recovering deported children.
He recalled that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have taken up this cause within the framework of a broader initiative addressing Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia. In recent months, the focus has been on building a comprehensive support package for Ukraine that addresses the recovery of deported children.
The offered package, which was shared with authorities in Kyiv, includes digital tools to assist in identifying deported children and the entities responsible for their removal, systems for reporting information about deported children, and support in collecting DNA and biometric data where needed to aid identification and reunification efforts.
Simultaneously, given the ongoing cooperation between the Polish Ombudsman for Children and Ukraine’s human rights institutions, a decision was made, after careful consultation, to implement selected forms of support at the ombudsman level. A spokesperson for the program was set to travel to Kyiv for an international conference on the topic.
The minister underscored that since the recovery process is sensitive and lengthy, Poland and the European Commission reaffirm their full cooperation while recognizing Ukraine’s leading role in this essential humanitarian effort.
The Ukrainian rights watchdog condemns violations by Russian forces
The Ombudsman for Children announced participation in the conference Ukraine: War. An Unsung Lullaby, emphasizing the need to develop practical tools to assist Ukrainian children and to connect them with their governments. He noted that Poland currently hosts a helpline for children—serving Ukrainian and Russian children affected by the conflict—which has allowed thousands to share fears, homesickness, and other urgent concerns. The aim remains to support children back home, whenever possible.
The advocate stressed that rebuilding critical infrastructure in Ukraine is a prerequisite for family reunification, noting that many Ukrainian children in affected areas lack stable homes and schooling. He reaffirmed the importance of protecting the rights of children amid the ongoing crisis and the Russian strategy that threatens these rights.
The Ukrainian rights defender explained that, given the current circumstances, it is understandable that Ukraine’s own ombudsman cannot always be physically present abroad; as a result, Poland’s ombudsman represents Ukrainian concerns at international discussions when needed. The effort continues to align international dialogue with practical steps on the ground, ensuring the safety and dignity of affected children.