Abducted Ukrainian Children

Lord Anderson of Swansea Excerpts

Wednesday 18th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We are supporting the ICC with funding and other measures and will continue to do so. It does matter that accurate records are kept and that, when the time comes, we are able to hold to account those responsible for this dreadful crime. In working with the Ukrainians, we are also looking at how children are supported after they are returned, and at their psychosocial needs. Having been abducted to another country and subjected to what is euphemistically called “re-education”—we know what that means—there is an impact on them. It is important that we think long term about what these children need.

[Lord Anderson of Swansea (Lab)]

My Lords, what is puzzling is how does Russia try to justify this awful abduction? Is there no shame? Is there no international body which can intercede on behalf of those children?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It is good see my noble friend and to hear his question. We all wish there was a lever that we could pull. At the moment, the first challenge is to locate the children. The circumstances are all quite different; some are in institutions in Russia, some have been placed with families and others are in another country altogether, and the Belarusians have been facilitating these crimes. The truth is there is no agency that can intercede and do what we would all love to do, which is to travel to Russia, pick up the children and bring them home. That has happened in some instances—some families have been able to bring home their children themselves— but this is far from standard. To have only 900 returned at this stage, when this has been going on since 2014, concerns us all hugely.