Abducted Ukrainian Children

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Wednesday 18th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

In the noble Lord’s question is the point about Russification, which tells us a lot about some of the motivation for the kidnapping of these children and for the war more generally. On the issue of records, it is difficult at the moment. We are working with the Government of Ukraine to try to get accurate data and information, using whatever means are necessary. I pay tribute to the Qataris for the role they have played in managing to negotiate the return of some children. We all have to do everything we can to make sure that public awareness, as he said, is raised of this issue. I think that when people find out that this is happening at this scale and in such an organised way, they will be horrified. So I agree with the noble Lord, and we should make sure that the public are made more keenly aware of this.

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, it is great to see virtual unanimity across the House on these issues; I have agreed with every comment made so far. Of all the many outrageous acts committed by Russia after its invasion, this systematic campaign of forcibly abducting children from Ukraine is perhaps one of the worst. It fractures their connection to Ukrainian language and heritage through, as the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler, says, their so-called re-education, disconnecting them from their Ukrainian identities. I wonder whether the Minister could update the House on what the Government are doing to support Ukraine’s domestic investigations into deaths, and link this to the International Criminal Court investigation into what are war crimes.

[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.