More than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been verified as deported to Russia, the United Nations human rights office said. About 1.6 million children are considered exposed to such risks.

The figures come from an OHCHR report published in March 2026. It says about 582,600 of the affected children are of school age.

A coalition of countries raised the issue at the UN General Assembly. They demanded the children’s return and accountability for those responsible.

The European Union has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the deportation programme.

Ukraine calls the deportations a war crime. Russia says the children were moved for their safety during fighting.

The return of deported children remains one of the hardest issues in any future peace talks. Families continue to search for missing children through official channels.

The issue was raised by a coalition of countries during the UN General Assembly in September. The group demanded the children’s immediate return and accountability for those responsible.