Free Russia Foundation (FRF) welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution November 12, 2026, resolution on Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia or living under Russian occupation. The resolution condemns Russia’s systematic militarization and arbitrary detention of Ukrainian children, calls for targeted sanctions against those responsible for these abuses, and insists that the return of deported and forcibly transferred children remain a priority in diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
During the drafting process, FRF submitted recommendations addressing the protection of Ukrainian children, including two proposals focused on abuses committed against children who remain under Russian occupation.
On militarization, we proposed that Parliament
Condemns the systemic militarization of Ukrainian children through compulsory military training, Russian military‑patriotic youth organizations and educational programs promoting service in Russia’s armed forces; demands an immediate end to these practices and to all measures preparing children in occupied territories for recruitment into the occupying power’s military.
On detention and prosecution, we proposed that Parliament
Condemns the intimidation, arbitrary detention, torture and politically motivated prosecution of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities for expressing their Ukrainian identity, opposing the occupation or maintaining ties with Ukraine; demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Ukrainian children arbitrarily detained by Russian authorities and safe, unhindered access for independent international monitors to all places where these children are held.
The adopted resolution reflects both recommendations. Paragraph 10 demands an immediate end to systematic indoctrination and militarization. Paragraph 13 condemns arbitrary detention, torture, sexual abuse and politically motivated prosecution. Paragraph 7 calls for immediate, unhindered and regular access for independent international organizations to Ukrainian children in Russia and Russian‑occupied territories.
These recommendations are grounded in FRF’s research documenting how Russian occupation authorities seek to reshape Ukrainian children’s identities and punish those who resist.
Our report Children as Instruments, drawing on 13 cases documented by the Back to Ukraine initiative, examines how occupation authorities use schools, cadet programs, military camps and youth organizations to prepare Ukrainian children for Russian military service. In one case, a boy who disappeared from the occupied Kherson region was later identified fighting against Ukraine in Russia’s armed forces. A separate analysis documents the detention and prosecution of Ukrainian teenagers under Russian occupation.
Read “Children as Instruments”
Read our analysis of detention cases
The return of Ukrainian children must remain a diplomatic priority. Parliament insists that the return of deported and forcibly transferred children must be immediate, safe and unconditional, and must never be tied to territorial concessions, prisoner exchanges or other political agreements. We urge the EU and its Member States to put tracing, return and family reunification on the agenda of every relevant diplomatic initiative, including peace negotiations. Those efforts should also press Russia to disclose where detained children are held, grant independent monitors access to every facility where they are held, and release all arbitrarily detained Ukrainian children immediately and unconditionally.
Targeted sanctions must reach the full network enabling these abuses. Paragraph 17 reflects FRF’s recommendation to extend sanctions to those who organize, finance or facilitate the deportation, forcible transfer, indoctrination and militarization of Ukrainian children.
We call on the Council of the EU to follow through with targeted sanctions and effective enforcement against responsible occupation officials, institutions running military programs, and the companies and transport operators that finance or facilitate these practices.
Free Russia Foundation (FRF) welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution November 12, 2026, resolution on Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia or living under Russian occupation. The resolution condemns Russia’s systematic militarization and arbitrary detention of Ukrainian children, calls for targeted sanctions against those responsible for these abuses, and insists that the return of deported and forcibly transferred children remain a priority in diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
During the drafting process, FRF submitted recommendations addressing the protection of Ukrainian children, including two proposals focused on abuses committed against children who remain under Russian occupation.
On militarization, we proposed that Parliament
Condemns the systemic militarization of Ukrainian children through compulsory military training, Russian military‑patriotic youth organizations and educational programs promoting service in Russia’s armed forces; demands an immediate end to these practices and to all measures preparing children in occupied territories for recruitment into the occupying power’s military.
On detention and prosecution, we proposed that Parliament
Condemns the intimidation, arbitrary detention, torture and politically motivated prosecution of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities for expressing their Ukrainian identity, opposing the occupation or maintaining ties with Ukraine; demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Ukrainian children arbitrarily detained by Russian authorities and safe, unhindered access for independent international monitors to all places where these children are held.
The adopted resolution reflects both recommendations. Paragraph 10 demands an immediate end to systematic indoctrination and militarization. Paragraph 13 condemns arbitrary detention, torture, sexual abuse and politically motivated prosecution. Paragraph 7 calls for immediate, unhindered and regular access for independent international organizations to Ukrainian children in Russia and Russian‑occupied territories.
These recommendations are grounded in FRF’s research documenting how Russian occupation authorities seek to reshape Ukrainian children’s identities and punish those who resist.
Our report Children as Instruments, drawing on 13 cases documented by the Back to Ukraine initiative, examines how occupation authorities use schools, cadet programs, military camps and youth organizations to prepare Ukrainian children for Russian military service. In one case, a boy who disappeared from the occupied Kherson region was later identified fighting against Ukraine in Russia’s armed forces. A separate analysis documents the detention and prosecution of Ukrainian teenagers under Russian occupation.
Read “Children as Instruments”
Read our analysis of detention cases
The return of Ukrainian children must remain a diplomatic priority. Parliament insists that the return of deported and forcibly transferred children must be immediate, safe and unconditional, and must never be tied to territorial concessions, prisoner exchanges or other political agreements. We urge the EU and its Member States to put tracing, return and family reunification on the agenda of every relevant diplomatic initiative, including peace negotiations. Those efforts should also press Russia to disclose where detained children are held, grant independent monitors access to every facility where they are held, and release all arbitrarily detained Ukrainian children immediately and unconditionally.
Targeted sanctions must reach the full network enabling these abuses. Paragraph 17 reflects FRF’s recommendation to extend sanctions to those who organize, finance or facilitate the deportation, forcible transfer, indoctrination and militarization of Ukrainian children.
We call on the Council of the EU to follow through with targeted sanctions and effective enforcement against responsible occupation officials, institutions running military programs, and the companies and transport operators that finance or facilitate these practices.