In a chilling moment on 4 June 2025, Vladimir Putin glanced indifferently at a list of 339 children- names which, according to Ukrainian authorities, belong to minors abducted by Russian forces and taken into Russia. The Russian president didn’t even bother to read it.
As TIME reveals, the issue of abducted children- one of the darkest chapters of the war in Ukraine- remains marginalised in peace negotiations, raising concern for the thousands of children growing up under Russian propaganda. So far, around 1,200 children have been successfully returned to Ukraine thanks to the efforts of relatives and humanitarian organisations. However, Kyiv estimates that more than 19,500 are still being held in Russia.
Some cases have shocked public opinion, such as that of little Margarita from Kherson, who was found adopted by a senior Russian official and baptised under a new name. For Ukraine, such instances are seen as a threat not only to the children’s identity but to the very future of the country, which is already facing a severe demographic crisis.
The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest over the unlawful deportation of children, charges that make him unwelcome in dozens of countries. Nevertheless, the Kremlin continues to portray the abduction and “re-education” of the children as acts of charity and patriotism.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic pressure on Russia to return the children is stalling over political calculations. The dispute has even reached the Oval Office, with Ukrainian President Zelensky openly clashing with President Trump, who supports an unconditional ceasefire. Funding for child repatriation monitoring programmes has been suspended, sparking outrage in Congress.
Zelensky insists the return of the children is not a matter for negotiation or exchange. “They are not commodities. They are not prisoners of war,” he tells TIME. He believes only sustained international pressure will force Putin to comply.
As TIME’s report stresses, the case of Ukraine’s lost children reveals a hidden dimension of the war- a battle for the soul and future of an entire generation.
Read the rest of TIME’S article here.
Also read: Major Ukrainian drone attacks sow chaos at Moscow’s airports
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel.
