Andriy Shevchenko Urges Support for Zelensky’s Initiative to Return Deported Children “Bring Kids Back UA”

Фото: Genoa CFC

Andriy Shevchenko made a passionate plea for support of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's initiative to return children deported during the war, titled Bring Kids Back UA, just before Ukraine's crucial Euro 2024 match against Belgium.

On June 26, Shevchenko, the President of the Ukrainian Football Association, took to social media to raise awareness about the approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. He called on the international community to support the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, which aims to rescue these children.

"Support the Bring Kids Back UA initiative: spread the word about the Ukrainian children deported by Russia. Let’s make this mission as unifying as football and bring the children back home," Shevchenko urged.

The initiative focuses on raising global awareness about the suffering caused by Russia's deportation of Ukrainian children and their families. To amplify this message, the Ukrainian Football Association and Bring Kids Back UA organized various activities during Euro 2024. For instance, on June 21, Ukrainian football fans marched in Düsseldorf in support of the mission, while players participated in a creative digital flash mob on Instagram.

Currently, about 20,000 children have been deported, though the actual figure may be higher. So far, Ukraine has successfully brought back 600 children, but many remain in captivity. To address this crisis, President Zelensky initiated the Bring Kids Back UA plan as part of the broader Peace Formula, which demands the release of all captives and deportees.

The objectives of Bring Kids Back UA are:

• Raising global awareness about the scale of the deportations;

• Organizing efforts to return and reintegrate the children;

• Supporting family care and education;

• Documenting war crimes and holding Russia accountable.

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This initiative serves as a call for international action to confront this humanitarian crisis.