Missing Ukrainian Children

WASHINGTON – Ilylia, a two-year-old boy from Ukraine, was taken by a high-ranking Russian official who praised his “beauty.” He hasn’t been seen since.

Sadly, he represents one of the many Ukrainian children who have gone missing amid the ongoing conflict, which Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska is trying hard to address.

In an exclusive interview in Kiev, Zelenska expressed hope that with peace talks between Ukraine and Russia gaining traction, the return of missing children will be prioritized.

Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, Ukraine has been struggling to locate and bring back children who have been taken by the Russian military. While officials say at least 19,500 children are unaccounted for, the actual number could be much higher.

The Russian government has claimed far larger figures. In 2023, Russian Children’s Ombudsman Maria Lybova Belova stated that 744,000 Ukrainian children had been moved to Russia.

“For all Ukrainians, this is one of the most heartbreaking consequences of this war,” Zelenska stated. “When the Russians took them, we couldn’t protect their rights – without consent, without records, without transparency.”

Thousands of children were labeled as part of an “evacuation,” but in reality, they were forcibly deported.

In some cases, entire boarding schools were emptied as children were placed on buses and disappeared.

Ukrainian social services have been racing against time to locate these children, but the ongoing conflict makes it incredibly difficult, especially in areas under Russian control.

“In the early days of the invasion, civilians could not evacuate freely,” Zelenska explained. “There were no safe passages. Those attempting to escape towards Ukrainian-controlled territories risked being shot, even families with children.”

During a controversial “filtration” process at checkpoints, many children were separated from their parents amid interrogations and inspections.

Since then, human rights organizations have documented instances of children being taken from their families during these procedures and never returning.

So far, Ukraine has managed to bring back around 1,500 children, but the process remains slow, perilous, and emotionally draining.

International bodies, like the UN, have assisted Ukraine in compiling lists of missing children, but even that effort is fraught with challenges. Russian authorities often complicate the identification process, using incorrect names and information.

“A Ukrainian child named Mykyta might be renamed Nikita in Russian records,” noted Zelenska. “They can alter aspects like birthdates, origins, or even names. That’s how these kids vanish.”

Ukrainian officials stress that prioritizing the return of these children is crucial, especially as peace talks unfold and discussions about territorial issues begin.

“The longer these kids remain there, the quicker they lose their identity, language, and homeland,” Zelenska warned. “Time is against us—and them.”

Ukraine continues to seek international support to pressure Russia into allowing independent verification of children’s whereabouts and conditions.

For now, however, the future of countless young Ukrainians remains uncertain, caught in the complexities of ongoing warfare and diplomacy.

“It’s very painful for all of us—Ukrainians and our nation—because we couldn’t ensure the rights of our children when the Russians violated them without consent,” stated the First Lady.

The situations for these children differ drastically in Russia; some have been sent to military training camps and even pushed to fight against their own people. Others endure forced labor or other forms of exploitation.

Zelenska recounted Ilylia’s story, explaining he was taken because of his appealing looks. “There are records of high-ranking officials selecting children as if they were shopping,” she said. “Ilylia’s health issues went unnoticed due to the lack of medical checks following his illegal abduction. After being taken, he was abandoned in Crimea. We don’t know what happened to him.”

“This reflects how they treat children as mere objects, devoid of any concern for their rights,” she emphasized. “This is why Ukraine fights so hard for them.”

She added that these children are often barred from speaking their native language or connecting with their culture and families.

The psychological toll on these kids is severe, Zelenska mentioned, revealing instances of children suffering deeply due to cultural suppression. Tragically, some have taken their own lives in Russia, unable to cope.

“Kids who return are traumatized—they’re broken,” she shared. “Only when they come back do they begin to emerge from their shells.”

Finding children who have been adopted into Russian families is nearly impossible once their identities change. As of now, Ukraine hasn’t managed to reclaim any such children.

Even when children can be identified, bringing them back to their homeland remains an uphill battle.

“We have grandparents and relatives searching for these kids, but we receive no feedback to our inquiries,” she lamented.

“International organizations working in Russia could be key mediators in these negotiations to assist us.”

“If they could help us obtain information about these children, it would be a significant step forward.”