According to information disclosed by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine as of June 4, 2025, the full-scale war initiated by Russia against our country has caused devastating human losses, including among Ukraine’s youngest residents — children
These tragedies have left a profound impact on the lives of thousands of Ukrainian families and remain one of the most horrific consequences of Russian aggression. According to prosecutors, at least 631 Ukrainian children have already been killed as a result of the Russian invasion. Additionally, over 1,975 children have been injured of varying severity, posing a threat to their lives and health. Unfortunately, these figures are only approximate, as active efforts are underway to clarify the data in areas of active hostilities and on temporarily occupied territories, where the situation remains uncertain. The most affected children are in Donetsk region, with 646 victims across several districts characterized by ongoing artillery shelling, attacks, and destruction. Second is Kharkiv region, with 495 injured children, followed by Kherson region with 214 casualties. Other regions include Dnipropetrovsk (242 children), Kyiv (146), Zaporizhzhia (185), Mykolaiv (120), and Sumy (142). Another horrifying aspect of this war, which heavily influences the informational context, is the evidence of child abductions. During recent negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Russian delegation essentially acknowledged the fact of abducting Ukrainian children but refused to specify the exact number of such cases. According to the head of state, Russian occupiers have illegally deported a significant number of Ukrainian minors, provoking outrage and endangering their lives and futures. The international community also responds to these humanitarian tragedies. Notably, in May, a group of U.S. senators adopted a resolution calling for the return of all Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia. The document condemns such actions and emphasizes the necessity of holding those responsible accountable for violations of international law and human rights. This situation underscores the scale and brutality of Russian aggression, as well as serving as a reminder to the international community of its obligation to protect and restore the rights of Ukrainian citizens, especially the youngest and most vulnerable. The pursuit of peace and justice remains on the agenda, but every day, the fight for the survival and dignity of Ukrainian children and their families — who are experiencing the darkest times in Ukraine’s modern history — continues.