June 8 is National Children’s Day—a day meant to celebrate childhood, family, and the promise of a safe future. But for tens of thousands of Ukrainian children, that future remains out of reach.
Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, over 19,546 Ukrainian children have been illegally deported to russia, Belarus, or russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. Some were taken from orphanages, while others were separated from their parents under false pretenses. Many have been adopted into russian families, renamed, and told they are no longer Ukrainian.
What happens when a child’s name, language, and past are taken from them?
Bring Kids Back UA
In the face of this serious violation of international law, Ukraine launched the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, an effort to identify, locate, and return abducted children. The process is long and challenging, involving legal advocacy, international coordination, and trauma-informed care.
As of April 16, 2025, only 1,274 children have been successfully brought back. Tens of thousands remain missing. At Nova Ukraine, we support these reunification efforts through advocacy and by bringing continued attention to the plight of abducted Ukrainian children.
You May Have Seen It: BRING KIDS BACK
During May and June 2025, Nova Ukraine placed billboards near major U.S. airports and high-traffic routes featuring an urgent message about Ukrainian children abducted by russia: BRING KIDS BACK.
These billboards are part of the broader #BringKidsBack campaign—a movement echoed across social media, advocacy spaces, and civil society groups committed to repatriating Ukrainian children taken to russia.
We invite everyone to follow the call: use your voice, share the message, and help shine a global spotlight on this crisis. Tens of thousands of children are still missing, and raising awareness is the first step toward bringing them home.
We hope these signs not only raise awareness but also inspire people to learn more—and most importantly, to contact their representatives and support S.Res.236.
We Welcome the Introduction of S.Res.236
On May 20, 2025, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced Senate Resolution 236 (S.Res.236) calling for the return of abducted Ukrainian children before any peace agreement with russia is finalized.
This resolution is a critical step forward. It recognizes the scope of the tragedy and demands accountability before diplomacy. We applaud the senators leading this effort and welcome the growing support for justice and reunification.
What You Can Do
- Call your Senators. Ask them to support S.Res.236 and help bring abducted Ukrainian children home.
- Use your voice. Post using #BringKidsBack and #ChildrenAreNonNegotiable to raise awareness.
- Read and share real stories. Personal stories bring the issue closer to home.
One Powerful Example
Thousands of Ukraine’s children vanished into Russia. This one made it back. — The Washington Post
The article tells the story of Illia Matviienko, a boy taken from Mariupol and eventually reunited with his mother in Ukraine after more than a year.
Every child has the right to a name, a family, and a future. The efforts to bring Ukraine’s children home are not symbolic. They are urgent, ongoing, and essential. Behind every number is a child with a story and a right to return. Let’s bring them back. Because childhood is not negotiable.
Donate. Impact. Change.
We greatly value your support, and it is indeed crucial. Please consider donating monthly. Your consistent contributions are vital to sustaining our efforts and driving meaningful change over time. Your commitment will make a lasting difference, and we sincerely appreciate your consideration. Donate now or learn how you can help.
