Zelenska, UN special envoy Frazier discuss Russian crimes against Ukrainian children

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska met in Kyiv with UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Vanessa Frazier, including to discuss the UN's role in holding Russian occupiers accountable for crimes against Ukrainian children.

Also present at the meeting were Presidential Adviser and Commissioner for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk, and Head of President of Ukraine's Bring Kids Back UA initiative Maksym Maksymov, according to a statement on the presidential website.

Zelenska said that since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has killed 697 Ukrainian children, while another 2,450 have been injured. At least 23 children have become victims of sexual violence. These are far from all the cases, and the true scale of this brutality remains unknown because of the psychological trauma suffered by victims.

"The annual report prepared by the UN special representative on crimes against children is important not only because it documents crimes against children and identifies those responsible. It also prevents the normalization of the injustice being committed against children around the world," she said.

Zelenska and Maksymov said that thanks to joint efforts more than 2,000 children had been brought home. The aggressor is still holding thousands of young Ukrainians.

"The UN General Assembly resolution 'The Return of Ukrainian Children' gave us hope that even more countries will work in a coordinated way to save children. The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which now has 47 members, stands ready to help in every possible way," the first lady said.

Zelenska said Russia is actively recruiting children into its army in the temporarily occupied territories by building a network of paramilitary organizations and military training programs.

"It is very important for us that the world sees and recognizes the crimes committed against Ukrainian children. This gives hope that there will be no impunity and that justice will find the criminals," the president's wife said.