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At Least 707 Children Have Been Killed by Russia Since the Start of Its Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine
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Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, at least 707 children have been killed in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression.
The figures were presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets on 4 June, marking the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
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The youngest victim was a newborn who lived only two days, having been born and died in a maternity hospital.
A further 2,548 children have been injured, while 2,318 are currently listed as missing.
“Behind every number is a child whose future has been stolen. Russia must be held accountable for these crimes,” Zelenskyy said.
Lubinets noted that the real numbers are likely higher, as Ukraine lacks access to data from temporarily occupied territories. He also said that thousands of Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia.
June 4 is the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. It honours kids affected by war and violence. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, at least 707 Ukrainian children have been killed. Behind every number is a child whose future has been… pic.twitter.com/eUEzgOSvEN
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 4, 2026
Additionally, as of May 2026, Ukraine has recorded over 20,570 cases of children being deported or forcibly transferred by Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Kyiv estimates that more than 1.6 million Ukrainian children are still under Russian control, while 2,129 have been successfully returned, according to Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said that more than 6,000 criminal proceedings are currently underway in Ukraine related to crimes against children and violations of child protection laws linked to Russian aggression.
He added that 234 Russian military personnel have been notified of suspicion, while indictments against 108 individuals have already been submitted to court.
Against the backdrop of rising child casualties and continued forced deportations, Ukraine is stepping up diplomatic efforts and securing renewed international backing, including a $25 million US initiative aimed at helping return Ukrainian children separated by the war.
The funding is designated to support the identification, repatriation, and rehabilitation of children who were forcibly transferred to Russian-controlled areas. Developed in coordination with the US Congress, the programme focuses on locating minors separated from their families and communities since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and providing them with necessary care upon their return.
The support will be allocated across two main areas. It will fund trusted partners involved in locating and monitoring children who have been taken from their places of residence.
Alongside government and legal measures, non-governmental organizations have stepped up advocacy on the issue of deported children. A “Joint Civil Society Statement” designed to reinforce international efforts to return thousands of Ukrainian children unlawfully deported or transferred was formally adopted on 30 April.
The statement underscores what participants describe as a serious and ongoing humanitarian crisis. It notes that tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken to Russia since 2014, with large-scale deportations accelerating following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
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