Ukraine Returns 2,790 Children Abducted by Russia, Signs Cooperation With Andorra
Ukraine has returned 2,790 children abducted by Russia, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while more than 20,000 remain unreturned. Zelenskyy and Andorran Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora agreed to cooperate on finding and bringing Ukrainian children home. The leaders also discussed possible Andorran support for Ukraine’s energy sector.
Key points
- Ukraine has returned 2,790 of the more than 20,000 children abducted by Russia, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Ukraine and Andorra agreed that their teams would contact each other and work together on returning Ukrainian children.
- The sides would identify concrete steps through which Andorra could assist with child returns.
- Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora discussed possible support for Ukraine’s energy sector, particularly during winter.
- Zelenskyy informed Espot Zamora about Russian strikes and their consequences.
- Zelenskyy also met Portuguese President António José Seguro in Madrid.
- Russia is obstructing the search, verification, identification and return of abducted Ukrainian children.
Why it matters
The return of 2,790 children leaves the large majority of the reported 20,000-plus abducted children still unreturned. Andorra’s involvement adds another international partner to efforts to locate, verify and bring Ukrainian children home. Russia’s resistance continues to impede the process, while the meeting linked cooperation on child returns with possible energy support for Ukraine.
What happened
Ukraine announced that it had returned 2,790 children whom Russia had abducted, out of a reported total of more than 20,000. Zelenskyy met Andorran Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora in Madrid, where the two discussed bringing Ukrainian children home. Their teams were to make contact and determine concrete steps for Andorra’s assistance. The meeting also covered possible support for Ukraine’s energy sector and the consequences of Russian strikes.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian sources centered their reporting on Zelenskyy’s announcement that 2,790 children had returned, emphasizing that most of the more than 20,000 abducted children remained abroad. They also highlighted Russia’s obstruction of the search, verification, identification and return process, alongside cooperation with Andorra, the Vatican and partners in the Middle East.
Background
Ukrainian officials have said that Russia forcibly moved or deported about 20,000 Ukrainian children. Ukraine is working with the Vatican, countries in the Middle East and other partners to return the children. In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Volodymyr Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over the unlawful transfer and deportation of children from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia.