Photo: © Giorgia Orlandi via Euronews
20 November 2025
The presidential initiative Bring Kids Back Ukraine—created to coordinate efforts to return Ukrainian children unlawfully removed and transferred to areas under Russian control—brought a delegation of returned adolescents to Rome, where they addressed the press at the Embassy of Ukraine in Rome. The event was organised by Bring Kids Back Ukraine and marked a rare opportunity to hear directly from minors who have since been safely repatriated to Ukrainian-controlled territory. In a packed room, children aged 14 to 18, joined by grandparents and other relatives, shared accounts of captivity and transfer from Russian-controlled areas or occupied parts of eastern Ukraine. Their testimonies described experiences including detention and deportation, as well as exposure to propaganda and indoctrination—elements presented as part of a broader attempt to erode Ukrainian identity.
As the moderator of the conference, Eleonora Mongelli, Vice President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, emphasised the scale of the issue, stating that up to 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain under Russian control. Representatives of the Ukrainian authorities and the initiative also highlighted the importance of sustained support after return, including psychosocial assistance and reintegration pathways for children affected by coercion and disorientation. The conference further addressed humanitarian mediation channels.
Read here the full article published in Euronews