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Nearly 700 Ukrainian Children Killed, 2,400 Injured in Russia’s War
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Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, 699 children have been killed, and 2,457 have been injured, as reported by the Juvenile Police of Ukraine on Telegram on April 16, 2026.
The total number of children affected by Russia's aggression currently stands at 3,156, based on official data.
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Among the victims, 699 children have died, and 2,457 have sustained injuries of varying severity. However, authorities emphasized that these figures are not final, and the situation continues to evolve.
In addition, the police have addressed thousands of reports related to missing children, with 52,276 minors successfully located and returned since the invasion began.
As the number of child casualties and injuries continues to rise, Ukraine is ramping up efforts to tackle the ongoing issue of child deportations by Russia, urging stronger international measures to hold Russia accountable.
On April 13, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Vanessa Fraser, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, to discuss the return of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russia and the necessity of reinforcing international accountability in this matter.
In a post on X, Sybiha emphasized that lasting peace cannot be achieved without the return of Ukrainian children who were taken from occupied territories. He noted that while more than 2,000 children have been brought back, many others remain in Russia.
“Russia is systematically altering the documents of Ukrainian children, placing them in foster care, including in remote regions of Russia. Additionally, it is trying to erase their identity by various means. More cynically, Russia is using these children as leverage in negotiations,” Sybiha stated.
Amid escalating child casualties and forced deportations, Ukraine intensifies its diplomatic efforts and garners new international support, including a $25 million US initiative focused on the return of Ukrainian children separated by the ongoing war.
This funding is specifically earmarked to aid in the return and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children who were forcibly relocated to Russian-controlled areas. Developed in collaboration with the US Congress, the initiative focuses on identifying, repatriating, and providing care for children who have been separated from their families and communities since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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