Ukraine Seeks Global Help for Kid Initiative

During a special event held by the Ukrainian Embassy in the Philippines, Dariia Zarivna, Chief Operating Officer of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, called for international support to aid in the return of Ukrainian children displaced by the conflict with Russia. The event marked Ukraine’s Constitution Day and was attended via online platforms.

Zarivna, who also serves as an advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, expressed appreciation for the Philippines’ support of Ukraine’s sovereignty. She underscored the initiative’s efforts to locate, return, and reintegrate children who have been systematically deported to Russia. To date, over 1,300 children have been successfully returned, though many more remain in occupied territories.

The initiative, launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seeks to expand its reach by encouraging more countries to join the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. This coalition, already comprising 41 states and the Council of Europe, aims to address the issue of displaced and abducted children.

Zarivna emphasized the importance of international collaboration in this humanitarian effort, stating that the ongoing crisis has deprived thousands of Ukrainian children of their childhood. She urged the global community to recognize the urgency of the situation and support Ukraine’s mission to bring these children back home.