A group of Ukrainian children who were previously abducted by Russian forces shared their harrowing experiences during a press conference in Rome on Wednesday. This event marked the first time since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion that these children, aged between 14 and 18, publicly detailed their captivity. It was organized by the initiative Bring Kids Back Ukraine, established by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to facilitate the return of abducted minors.
The meeting took place at the Ukrainian Embassy in Rome, where children, accompanied by their grandparents and other family members, recounted their traumatic experiences in Russian-controlled territories. Some had lived in areas occupied by Russian forces, while others were taken from different locations in Ukraine. Their testimonies highlight a disturbing aspect of the ongoing conflict, revealing systematic efforts by Russia to re-educate and Russify Ukrainian children.
According to Bring Kids Back Ukraine, these operations serve dual purposes: reshaping the demographic landscape of Russian-occupied regions and attempting to convert young Ukrainians into future soldiers. The scale of these abductions is alarming. Eleonora Mongelli, vice president of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, reported that approximately 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain under Russian control. To date, Ukraine has successfully repatriated around 1,600 children through mediators, including Qatar and the Vatican.
Ukrainian authorities have documented over 19,500 cases of child abduction since the war escalated in early 2022. However, the actual number of deported children is believed to be significantly higher. Research from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab estimates that as of March 19, 2025, the total may be closer to 35,000. In contrast, Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova claimed that Russia “accepted” around 700,000 Ukrainian children between February 2022 and July 2023.
Experiences in Filtration Camps
The children also spoke of the harsh realities of “filtration camps,” which serve as checkpoints where Ukrainians are screened and interrogated. These camps have been operational since the beginning of the invasion, with civilians forced to pass through them when crossing from Ukrainian to Russian-controlled areas.
“They check for tattoos to see if you carry any Ukrainian symbols,” shared Yuliia Dvornychenko, who spent two years in Russian-occupied territories. “They also go through your phone to see if you have photos or contacts related to Ukrainian soldiers. If found, you are denied passage, and that can lead to imprisonment.”
The separation of families often occurs during these processes. For example, Liudmyla Siryk recounted the traumatic experience of her grandson, Oleksandr, who was captured by Russian forces after being injured during shelling in Mariupol. During the filtration process, he was separated from his mother and later deported to occupied Donetsk. Thankfully, his grandmother managed to locate him and bring him back to Ukraine.
Another poignant story was shared by Veronika Vlasova, who described her time in a filtration camp and an orphanage after fleeing her home in the Kherson region at the age of 13. She remembered the bullying she faced from Russian children and the pressure to renounce her Ukrainian identity.
“When the police interrogated me, they kept insisting that Ukraine no longer existed,” Vlasova said. “They told me that my future was in Russia, and it was better for me to stay there.” After enduring isolation for two weeks in an orphanage, she has since returned to Kyiv, where she now receives psychological support for the trauma she experienced.
Long-Term Impact of Abductions
The psychological scars of such abductions are profound. Maksym Maksymov, head of projects at Bring Kids Back Ukraine, emphasized that the focus should not only be on the number of children returned but also on the lasting effects of their experiences. “The Russian Federation aims to instill a sense of distrust and vulnerability in these children,” he explained. “They are taught to view everyone as an enemy, leaving them disoriented and unsure of whom to trust.”
Despite efforts to provide psychological support, many of the children continue to grapple with the long-term consequences of their captivity. “Psychologists have noted that some children become extremely obedient, as though they have lost their free will,” Maksymov added.
During the press conference, Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy head of President Zelenskyy’s office, announced Ukraine’s intention to formalize the Vatican’s role as a mediator in negotiations for the return of civilians. A letter from Zelenskyy was delivered to Pope Francis ahead of a scheduled meeting with the delegation of returned children. Vereshchuk emphasized the need to formalize the processes initiated by the late Pope Francis, with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi previously serving as the papal envoy for humanitarian issues.
“To achieve more, we need to formalize this process in the Vatican,” she stated. “This is why we are making this request official.”
The stories shared by these children serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for international attention and action to protect vulnerable populations.
