Ukraine’s Football Community Demands the Return of All the Children Abducted by Russia

As the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship unfolds, Ukrainian football players and fans participated in efforts to support the return of deported children to Ukraine as part of the Bring Kids Back UA action plan.

Currently, around 20,000 children have been abducted and deported by Russia (these are only the official numbers, the real ones are likely higher). Ukraine has successfully repatriated 388 children, but the rest are still in Russian captivity.

On June 21, in Dusseldorf, the fan movement of the Ukrainian National Football Team marched in solidarity with the Bring Kids Back UA mission—a plan spearheaded by President Zelenskyy aimed at repatriating Ukrainian children who have been illegally deported or forcibly displaced by Russia.

Bring Kids Back UA is an action plan initiated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to tackle this pressing issue of forcibly displaced kids by Russia.

In addition, on June 19, the Ukrainian National Football Team players participated in a creative digital flash mob on Instagram.

Both initiatives aim to spotlight Russia’s war crimes, particularly its abduction of Ukrainian children and attempts to erase their identities. Their objective is to raise global awareness about the deportation issue and garner clear support for Ukraine. Through collective action, they seek to return abducted children home and ensure that Russia is held accountable for its criminal actions.

Addressing the deportation issue is crucial within the context of the Summit on Peace for Ukraine agenda, where the release of all prisoners and deportees, including children, stands as a pivotal agenda item.