Today, on the 29th of June, at Ukraine's first Prayer Breakfast held under the patronage of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Humanitarian Forum titled “Childhood Has an Expiry Date: Bring Kids Back” was organized to address the plight of Ukrainian children affected by the war.
The forum transitioned into a panel discussion moderated by Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Children's Rights and Rehabilitation, who stressed that the issue is not just statistical but involves real lives filled with pain, hope, and resilience. Daria highlighted: "The abduction, deportation, and forced displacement of children are not just war crimes. They are an attempt to uproot our nation and break its future. But we cannot allow this to happen because every Ukrainian child is our hope and our future."
Victoria Litvinova, Deputy Prosecutor General, provided insights into the documentation of crimes against Ukrainian children, including murder, injury, sexual violence, loss of parents, and deportation.
Iryna Suslova, Representative of Ukrainian Ombudsman, emphasized how Russia disguises the deportation of Ukrainian children as "virtuous evacuation" and highlighted the role of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children of 39 countries in gathering and processing information for the International Criminal Court, and in strengthening sanctions against those responsible for these crimes. “Success of returning Ukrainian children lies in working together; otherwise, we will achieve nothing,” she stated.
Maria Sulyalina, Head of the Ukrainian Human Rights Organization "Almenda," highlighted the indoctrination methods used by Russians and the resulting identity changes in deported children.
To emphasize the need for proper documentation and international awareness of the indoctrination crimes against children, Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in Crimea, added: “What we are witnessing is a form of imperial colonialism. For five generations, Crimean Tatars have lived under the threat of deportation. Their kids born today have no opportunity to experience their homeland, and some have never even seen it. The deportation of children began in Crimea with the ‘Hope’ trains that moved thousands of children in 2014. Despite intense indoctrination efforts, despite severe pressure, many children resist and show the indomitable Ukrainian spirit.”
Roman Romanov, Director of the Human Rights and Justice Program at the International Renaissance Foundation, spoke about the foundation's efforts to support initiatives aimed at addressing children's issues. Mykola Kuleba, Founder of “Save Ukraine”, discussed the challenges faced by Ukrainian children and the efforts needed to restore their childhoods and integrate them back into society.
The event featured an exhibition titled "Living the War," showcasing personal stories of Ukrainians affected by the Russian aggression, with a special focus on children. The exhibition included photographs and narratives that document the impact of the war on the youngest and most vulnerable.