Ruslan Stefanchuk: «russia has abducted 20,000 Ukrainian children, and their return is a matter of humanity»
Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, together with Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden and Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén, participated in a high-level meeting titled «Abducted Ukrainian Children: A Call for Collective Action», held during the Fourth Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform.
In his remarks, Ruslan Stefanchuk expressed gratitude to Sweden — its Government, the Riksdag, and the Royal Family — for their consistent and profound attention to the issue of Ukrainian children unlawfully deported by russia. He stressed that this is one of the gravest crimes of russia’s aggression: since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, russia has abducted approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children. To date, 210 facilities have been identified in russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine where children are being held illegally, subjected to ideological pressure, and militarized.
«The return of Ukrainian children is a matter of humanity. There can be no indifference or neutrality here. Every child must return home — unconditionally and without delay,» the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada emphasized.
Stefanchuk also recalled that Ukraine, together with Canada, established the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which already includes 42 countries. He urged those states that have not yet joined to take this important step.
«Only through joint efforts can we protect the children and restore justice,» the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada underscored.