The UN General Assembly on Wednesday demanded by a wide margin that Russia immediately and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported since the start of the war.
The draft resolution during the emergency special session was approved by 91 votes in favour, 12 against and 57 abstentions, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
The resolution expresses deep concern about the fate of Ukrainian children separated from their families since 2014 - when Moscow annexed Crimea - including those transferred within occupied Ukrainian territory and those deported to Russia.
It describes these acts as violations of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the forcible transfer or deportation of protected persons from occupied territory.
Detailed resolution
It "demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported," and urges Moscow to cease any further practices of deportation, separation from families, changes of citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination.
The text also calls on the UN Secretary-General to step up his good offices, including through his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict , to coordinate UN action, engage with Russia on tracking down those taken, and to ensure access for international monitoring and humanitarian organizations.
It also expressed support for international initiatives to secure the prompt return of Ukrainian children and for their rehabilitation and reintegration, including access to health care, psychosocial support and education.
Abducted at gunpoint
Opening the meeting, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the ordeal faced by Ukrainian children taken from their homes.
"Imagine you're a 16-year-old going about your day […] when suddenly soldiers armed with machine guns wearing balaclavas to mask their faces burst into your home," she said.
"They force you into your vehicle and drive you away in an unknown direction, and you find yourself stuck for months in a nightmare, with a different name."
She stressed that international law is unambiguous.
"What we are witnessing therefore is not merely a tragedy of some children, but a violation of international law," Ms. Baerbock said, citing Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention .
Question of humanity
Presenting the draft, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa said the text was "not about politics…it is about humanity."
Amid Russia's war of aggression, she said, children have been killed, injured, raped, separated from their families and deported.
"It is unimaginable that someone could view children as war trophies," she said, adding that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia.
"Not a single child should be separated from their family," she stressed.
'Cynical lie'
Russia rejected the resolution as politically motivated. Ambassador Maria Zabolotskaya, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said the meeting ran counter to peace efforts and described the resolution as a "particularly cynical lie."
She insisted Moscow remained open to cooperation on children's issues, urging all States to oppose the text.
"Each vote for the resolution is support for lies, war and confrontation," she said.
Through the resolution, the General Assembly also decided to temporarily adjourn its emergency special session, authorizing the Assembly President to reconvene it at the request of Member States.
