Across Ukraine and neighbouring countries, Eurochild members have worked tirelessly under extraordinary circumstances, often suspending their regular activities to provide emergency aid, safe shelter and psychological care to children experiencing trauma and loss. At the same time, they have carried the immense responsibility of continuing to defend and advance children’s rights in the midst of conflict.

In times of war, the risk of regression is real: child protection systems come under strain, poverty deepens, access to education and healthcare is disrupted, and the most vulnerable – including children with disabilities and those without parental care – face heightened risks. Because of the war, there’s also a lack of data, which makes it even more difficult to assess the situation and propose concrete solutions to the key issues experienced by children. Despite these challenges, our members remain steadfast in their commitment to ensure that children’s rights are not set aside, but protected and prioritised, even in the darkest of times.

How we supported the government of Ukraine
In these challenging times, the government of Ukraine has taken various steps to protect children’s rights and align with the EU standards in light of the EU Accession. Since Ukraine became a candidate country, we have been informing the European Commission of the enlargement reports for Ukraine, based on the information provided by members in our Flagship Report. In 2025, we have taken our support a step further, by providing training to Ukraine’s Coordination Center to leverage the EU accession to ensure children’s rights, as well as training on the European Child Guarantee for UNICEF Ukraine. Now, we look forward to continuing to support the implementation of the National Plan for implementing the European Child Guarantee.

The needs of unaccompanied children and their guardians
Eurochild, in a joint statement, called for stronger EU protection for unaccompanied and separated children from Ukraine, urging clear residency paths, comprehensive support, and long-term safeguards as many face legal uncertainty and shrinking NGO support.

As part of the GUIDE project, we also launched Guardians, a video featuring a guardian and a trainer from Ukraine who were interviewed about supporting children fleeing the invasion and arriving alone in foreign countries.

A resource for children
In 2022, Eurochild created and printed a colouring book to help children cope with fears related to the war, which was distributed in schools and centres. Download it in Ukrainian, Czech, English, Hungarian, Polish, and Romanian.

What you can do: Help our members help children in Ukraine

Connect with our members below to learn more about their vital work in the country, and consider donating to help them continue delivering essential support on the ground:

• Charitable Fund “BGV”
• Charity Fund EDUKIDS
• Charity Organisation “Charity Fund RIDNI”
• Emile Foundation
• International Charity Partnership for Every Child
• International NGO “International Leadership and Development Center
• Kids of Ukraine Charity Fund
• Polina Klykova
• Star for Life Ukraine
• Stichting Children of Heroes of Ukraine
• Ukrainian Child Rights Network
• Ukrainian Charity Foundation Children of Heroes
• Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health
• “Voices of Children” Charitable Fund

Further readings

• Eurochild supports Ukraine’s Coordination Center to leverage the EU accession to ensure children’s rights
• Supporting children’s rights in Ukraine
• Ukraine 2023: What are the challenges to uphold children’s rights during the conflict in Ukraine?
• Two years on, what are the needs of Ukraine’s children and families?
• Eurochild’s Ukrainian members protecting the right of children to be children during war
• Watch the Guardians video on YouTube or below:

Counting children’s needs in justice

• Polina Klykova

3 years of war escalation, 167 drones per night, 1 daily minute of silence to honour one’s dead.
In 21st-century Europe, we have to count things that should never happen again.

In this reality, I am engaged in multiple national actions related to children’s rights and child protection, currently with a key focus on children’s access to justice. It is extremely hard to promote rights within a system that is being ruined by war in many senses: physical destruction, loss of human resources, and loss of trust in peace and democracy.

It increases injustice and requires the permanent and confident involvement of national practitioners and the international community. Thankfully, we don’t have to explain that people need medical services even if they are not war-injured; that children need education, and that it should not be only about war. But somehow, we see a lack of resources for human rights issues beyond the direct impact of war, and we have to advocate and fight for every child’s rights protection stronger than ever to keep children’s human rights on national and local agendas—both in humanitarian and non-humanitarian contexts.

“…six, seven… eight” – I wish I didn’t have to remember my neighbour’s daughter learning to count by the sound of explosions in Kyiv every evening.

Read more updates by Polina Klykova

Supporting the Youngest Victims of War

• Children of Heroes

“My son keeps talking to his father, who passed away five months ago.” (Mother of a 6-year-old)
“My daughter wants to go to heaven to be with her dad… She asks me when she will die.” (Mother of a 5-year-old)
“Mom, hold me tight, so Dad doesn’t take me away.” (7-year-old child)

The war is ongoing, and with every air raid siren, the children we support are reminded of their loss. Psychological counselling remains the most powerful tool for overcoming trauma and preventing its long-term consequences. Our mission is clear: to ensure that no child faces this burden alone. Through structured support, we empower a new generation of Ukrainians to overcome hardships and rebuild their lives.

The Children of Heroes Charity Fund remains committed to long-term aid for children who have lost one or both parents to Russia’s war against Ukraine, providing psychological care, education, medical aid, and humanitarian relief. In 2024 we provided direct support to more than 11,700 children from over 7,200 families affected by the war. We addressed the severe emotional and mental toll experienced by children. We responded to 1,704 individual requests and conducted 11,937 psychological consultations.

Looking ahead, we are strengthening our impact through Psychological Screening Implementation; Expansion of Social Adaptation Camps; Growth in Beneficiary Numbers. As of February 2025, we care for over 12,000 children, and this number is growing by 15-20 children daily. To meet this increasing demand, we are scaling our programs to ensure continuous and effective support.

Read more updates by Children of Heroes

Pushing for systemic reforms and urgent interventions for children at risk

• Ukrainian Child Rights Network

Over the past year, the Ukrainian Child Rights Network has expanded to 40 national and international organisations, strengthening efforts to protect children’s rights. Through policy, advocacy, research, direct interventions, and capacity-building, we have worked to address the challenges of wartime displacement, deportation, and institutionalisation. Key achievements include developing the Child Rights Roadmap, now part of Ukraine’s national strategy for family-based care, and launching training to support deinstitutionalisation. The network has also introduced safeguarding policies and advocated for the return of deported and forcibly displaced children.

Our research has informed evidence-based policies on child welfare. The Behind Closed Doors study provided the first comprehensive insight into the experiences of children in institutional care, including children with disabilities, highlighting the urgent need for deinstitutionalisation. Through in-depth interviews, focus groups, and surveys covering 500 children we gathered direct testimony about their dreams, fears, and needs. Meanwhile, the Unreturned study examined the forced deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia, shaping policies for their reintegration and support. Beyond advocacy, our network has directly aided rescue efforts. Through the Way Home project, we helped repatriate 215 children and developed protocols for tracking and supporting affected families. The Integrated Social Services project has reached over 17,700 children and caregivers, expanded services in 27 communities, and trained nearly 2,000 social workers.

Despite the challenges posed by war and resource limitations, we remain committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow up in safety, dignity, and a loving family environment.

Read more updates by the Ukrainian Child Rights Network

Evolving Needs: How War is Reshaping the Psychological Support for Ukrainian Children

• Voices of Children Foundation

The Voices of Children Foundation has studied the psychological impact of war on Ukrainian children and conducted a survey, revealing how their mental health needs have evolved over the three years of full-scale war. The psychological needs of Ukrainian children have evolved significantly over the three years of full-scale war.

Initially, most children sought help for acute stress reactions—heightened anxiety, emotional outbursts, and trouble concentrating. However, as war became a prolonged reality, their challenges deepened. Many have adapted to constant sirens and displacement but now struggle with social interactions, motivation, and long-term planning. Cognitive abilities, such as memory and focus, have also suffered, making education and peer relationships difficult. The Voices of Children psychologists report that children from frontline regions face particularly severe trauma, including PTSD, self-harm, and substance use as coping mechanisms. Parents and caregivers are also seeking more support, as conflicts within families intensify. Many struggle with their children’s growing aggression, withdrawal, and defiance.

Psychological services now address not only individual trauma but also family dynamics and social reintegration. The need for professional intervention is greater than ever, requiring a holistic approach that combines therapy, community support, and structured resilience-building programs. The Voices of Children remains at the forefront of this mission, ensuring that no child is left alone in their pain, and that they receive the care they need to rebuild their future.

2024 Achievements:

• 2,630 calls processed on the hotline
• 3,711 online counselling sessions provided
• 74 training sessions conducted for educators, media representatives, law enforcement officers, child protection services, social service centres, police, NGOs, and other specialists
• 119 children with ASD received rehabilitation
• 9,526 children in communities received humanitarian aid
• 17 camps organised for children
• A total of 10,154 children received psychological and psychosocial support
• 3 cultural and artistic events held in frontline cities

Read more updates by Voices of Children

Photo: Children of Heroes Foundation

Further reading:

Read our Ukrainian members’ updates and reflections from 2024

Despite the UN General Comment No. 17 on the “right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts” not covering this right during armed conflicts, we may see the especially positive impact of “natural games” on children’s emotional well-being and resilience. The “natural game” here refers to what children do without being pushed to do so; such activities are their own way of living and handling circumstances.

That is probably one of the reasons (or the only one) why we may see this type of content on social media created by children or by their parents, but not in public and official reports. Children who live in armed conflicts, under the daily threat of air raids while being exposed to high risks for their health and life, keep playing!

Children play

… during electricity blackouts which can last for hours. It is easier to play if you have a camping headlamp
… underground. Given that children have to spend more time underground, they play with a ball, sing or dance while seeking refuge from the bombs in basements and bunkers.
… among the debris of buildings, like they used to do before in parks and on the street.

Safeguarding note: To protect children’s privacy and to follow our child protection policy the visuals above are sketches by Davide Rambaldi based on actual footage uploaded on TikTok by children in Ukraine.

Further information

• Two years on, what are the needs of Ukraine’s children and families? On 24 February 2024 which marked the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we asked Eurochild members in Ukraine to tell us what their priorities for the wellbeing of children are.

“We are very proud of the vital work Ukrainian members are carrying out to ensure children can exercise their rights in these difficult times of war. Eurochild members continue to demonstrate (the good practices) where further EU funding should be directed” says Sabine Saliba, Eurochild Secretary General.

Fighting war trauma

• Voices of Children Foundation

In the past two years, 528 children have been killed, 1,225 have been wounded, and nearly 20,000 have been unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation. Hundreds of thousands of children are facing rocket attacks daily; some children have permanently left the war zone and moved to other countries, where they are compelled to live without their fathers — who defend our country (Ukraine) on the front line.

The war continues and enduring it without any support or guidance is difficult. That’s why the “Voices of Children” Charitable Foundation remains committed to providing systematic assistance. Over 100 psychologists work tirelessly both offline and online, offering individual and group psychological support to children and parents. We also train and empower professionals in this field. In our long-term plans, we aim to establish a rehabilitation centre near Kyiv, where we can simultaneously accommodate up to a hundred children to aid them through various programmes.

We recognise that the aftermath of war will have enduring and for many, devastating effects. However, research conducted by experts and scientists highlights the extraordinary resilience of children’s minds and emotions. With timely and professional support in a nurturing environment, the children can have the chance to lead fulfilling lives, unburdened by the anxieties of war. Each day, we strive to fulfil our mission: ensuring that no child bears the burden of war trauma alone.

Read more updates from Voices of Children Foundation

Dealing with emergencies and humanitarian action without compromising social progress in the long run

• Polina Klykova

In the modern world, it is difficult to comprehend how war can unfold in 21st-century Europe with violations of international humanitarian law, human rights, against values for which our societies have already paid dearly in its history. Speaking about Ukraine, it is important to acknowledge the following: war affects all aspects of life, but not all life is war.

Thus, not all work is war-focused. For example, in my activities, I provide legal consultations to children and, in some matters, their legal representatives. The full-scale war has led to an increase in requests related to the challenges of war (documents for IDPs, crossing borders regulations under the martial law, etc.). But not all requests are war-related: people have lives, rights, and issues related to “regular issues” like access to education, social services, and other opportunities.

However, war takes away many resources (human, financial, etc.), obstructing the progress that would have been achieved in peacetime, particularly in the areas of inclusion, legal awareness, and other developments of communities, countries, and regions.

Therefore, during a period of war escalation, it is especially important to support all spheres that may be related or not directly related to military or humanitarian action.

Read more updates by Polina Klykova

Responding to a huge increase in the need for quality social services

• International Leadership and Development Center

The development of professional competencies is our main priority. Since the beginning of the war, we have realised the need to develop the professional competencies of specialists in the social field to work with children and families in war and post-war conditions, as well as to prevent burnout and secondary traumatic stress. During the war, specialists face new challenges and difficulties, so training is a solution that will help resolve these challenges. We regularly conduct needs assessments to identify the most relevant topics for the training we provide. Since the beginning of the war, we have conducted 106 training activities for 1,484 people.

In times of war, quality online training is becoming more important than ever. To ensure accessibility of training, we have created the BeProfi online training platform, where child welfare workers and professionals can be trained from their devices online, in a safe environment and at a time convenient for them. Currently, 5 online courses are available on the Beprofi platform.

Helping children who have been separated from their families

• Ukrainian Child Rights Network

The scale of displacement is immense; of the 4 million displaced people receiving temporary protection in the European Union, 1.3 million are children. There have been documented cases where, despite the presence of Ukrainian guardians and a prohibition on international adoption during the war, European families still attempted to proceed with the adoption procedure for Ukrainian children. Data from Member States are not always disaggregated by age and sex, making it difficult to assess the different risks and protection needs for various age groups, especially for girls.

Supporting children with disabilities poses significant challenges, particularly concerning the acceptance of disability documentation from Ukraine, which limits the support available to them. Some Member States have implemented targeted support programmes; however, Member States must ensure that the specific needs for accessibility, inclusion, and additional support are adequately addressed. Many of these children are left without educational services, significantly deteriorating their physical and psychological well-being.

Children evacuated from Ukrainian institutions were often housed in large or inadequate facilities, as part of urgent and crisis-response measures. These arrangements were made without sufficient prior preparation or consideration for the individual needs of each child as force-majeure measures. However, despite the passage of two years, the situation for these children remains largely unchanged, some institutions still remain. In several European countries, including Italy and Germany, Ukrainian children face significant challenges in returning to their home country. Currently, there are instances where Ukrainian children are residing in temporary childcare and foster care facilities, with legal processes underway regarding their repatriation.

Read the full update by the Ukrainian Child Rights Network (PDF)

Photo by Алесь Усцінаў

The series of brochures “Childhood in War” was launched in spring 2022 to communicate the situation of children’s rights during the international armed conflict in Ukraine.

This third publication covers the impact of war on children’s rights to family: separation from parent(s), attempts to abandon a child, situation of caring for orphans, and an overview of using reproductive technologies and it is based on statistics and cases from open sources, private cases disclosed within legal consultations and official data.

At least half of Ukrainian children experienced separation from a parent, commonly with fathers who are fighting in the war. Other children have been evacuated in order to maintain access to medical services and continue their education. In the first year of the full-scale war more than 7,300 children got the status of orphan or of children deprived of parental care.

Eurochild member from Kyiv Polina Klykova conducts relevant legal analysis, provides consultations, trainings, humanitarian support and engages children in human rights initiatives. Polina is also the founder of childrenrights.info and has published a first brochure focusing on violations of children’s rights, and a second one on education, health, and identity.

Read the full publication

Further readings:

• Nowhere to go back to – Eurochild Portuguese member Sérgio Costa Araújo interviews Polina Klykova, Eurochild member from Kyiv on the situation in Ukraine.
• Solidarity with Children of Ukraine Hub – Read our statements and resources

BRUSSELS, 24 February 2023 – War is not only a threat to children’s safety in the present but also a risk for their future. War limits access to fundamental services and infrastructures, such as schools, medicines, hospitals, and early childhood facilities and leaves many children displaced far from home at a high risk of abuse and trafficking.Children should be enjoying their rights to learn, do sports and play. Even the graduation celebration, known as ‘last bells’ has been replaced by the noise of sirens.

“1 in 5 of Eurochild’s members are in and around Ukraine. They have been, and continue working day in day out, on the ground, with decision-makers to safeguard children’s best interests. They have and are an inspiration to all and Eurochild is truly proud of them.

The testimonies and work of Eurochild’s members show what Ukrainian children not only need now, but also in the future. Their work is putting a further spotlight on the need to ensure EU financial support, on the short, medium and long term.  Please help Eurochild to continue to support and amplify their work.” –Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Eurochild President.

Our members have been providing direct assistance to the children and families:

• Voices of Children has been providing psychological assistance to children of war for 7 years. They use art therapy and storytelling to support children’s well-being (helping children who suffer from PTSD) and provide financial support to families impacted by the war. Voices also collect stories from children. Children’s quotes have been featured in a book along with artworks donated by artists from around the world.
• International Leadership and Development Center runs classes, consultations, webinars and support groups. They have trained more than 1,000 professionals and helped 138 children aged 5-10 years old and 880 parents and specialists. They also disseminate informational materials via social media.
• Partnership for Every Child gives psychological support and social services to veterans and military families. They also collect household equipment and toys for families impacted by the war and provide support to authorities in monitoring and ensuring the protection and basic needs of children in care.
• Edukids focuses on education, child participation, dyslexia and the promotion of children’s rights and the welfare of children in Ukraine. They now fundraise for the victims of shelling.
• Polina Klykova promotes children’s rights, conducts relevant legal analysis, provides consultations and trainings, and engages children in human rights initiatives. Since the war escalation, she has been researching the impact of war on children’s rights, staying involved in humanitarian aid, and advocating for children’s rights implementation in different fields of practice. Polina is also the founder of childrenrights.info and has published a first brochure focusing on violations of children’s rights, and a second one on education, health, and identity.

Even if the conflict would cease today, organisations and institutions will have a lot of work to do to support the needs of children in Ukraine. Eurochild is working with members, national governments, and EU institutions to defend the right of Ukraine’s children to a safe, happy, healthy childhood.

Support our members by promoting their work and donating to them.

This publication is the second one in a series of combined notes about childhood during the war. While the first brochure focused on child protection and reported violations of children’s rights, the second one discloses the impact of war on children’s rights to education, health, and identity. It is based on the gathering of statistics and cases from open sources, official data, and private stories and is part of the childrenrights.info initiative run by Polina.

The publication features stories and explanations of the obstacles in the educational process for pupils who stay in the territory of Ukraine and abroad, the military use of schools, the restricted access to healthcare and medicines, the Russian attacks against the humanitarian aid and the long term effects of traumatic experiences.

Read the brochure

Further readings:

• Nowhere to go back to – Eurochild Portuguese member Sérgio Costa Araújo interviews Polina Klykova, Eurochild member from Kyiv on the situation in Ukraine.
• Solidarity with Children of Ukraine Hub – Read our statements and resources

Shedding some light on this devastating crisis through our advocacy work

We will continue to communicate directly with members both in Ukraine and beyond to provide support where we can, and to gather intelligence of the latest developments for children in members’ activities. Please never hesitate to reach out to the Secretariat with any updates you may want to share.

Additionally, we are continuing to promote our members’ work in Ukraine and the region among our international audiences. For example, we recently supported the dissemination of Childhood during the war, the newly released booklet of our Ukrainian member, Polina Klykova. Partnership 4 Every Child’s analysis on data on children in alternative care has also been featured in the recent Reuters article – Emptying Ukraine’s Orphanages, alongside our own data.

We continue to participate in expert groups such as the Global Sub-group on Ukraine children’s care facilitated by Better Care Network, EU civil society coalitions and expert consultations with the EU institutions, and we will inform members when relevant opportunities for engagement arise.

In the coming months, we will continue to communicate updates and developments from our network on Ukraine. The impact of the war on children who have fled Ukraine to other EU countries will also be highlighted as part of our analysis of the European Semester where more than 30 members will be contributing their national perspectives.

Together with professionals in Poland, we have created child-friendly versions of Heroes Cry Too, the trauma-informed colouring book for children to talk about the war. 500 hard copies have been distributed to schools, social workers, education trainers and humanitarian aid providers in Belgium and we have also created translated versions in Ukrainian, Russian, English, Polish, Romanian and in Czech – all available for download from our website.

Future steps on funding and partnerships development

While we are convinced that the above next steps will help our members, the Secretariat is passionate about expanding our advocacy and capacity building on Ukraine. That’s why we are also looking for further funding and partnerships to enable us to expand our area of work to ensure children’s rights in Ukraine in two areas:

1. Empower Ukrainian civil society to children’s rights are respected and fulfilled
2. Push for deinstitutionalisation in Ukraine’s child protection reforms as part of EU accession

Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any question or suggestion on the above; your input is always really appreciated. For further information, you can reach out to Eurochild Policy & Project Officer, Ciaran O’Donnell.

Since the onset of the invasion, the Eurochild network has been at the forefront of advocating for putting children first. We have shifted our work to understand needs on the ground and to urgently call on the EU and Member States to put the ‘best interest of the child’ at the heart of decision-making.

Our work is by no means over, but as a network, we want to take stock of how we have reacted to this devastating war and prioritised children’s rights in humanitarian, professional and policy responses across Europe and beyond.

We coordinate action and represent voices from civil society organisations and children on child rights issues at EU, international, regional and national levels

As Europe’s leading umbrella network for child rights, we have shared our members’ experiences and demands with key decision-makers in the EU institutions through a series of statements and letters on topics including child protection, education, registration, safety and early childhood development.

We are also participating in leading working groups and consultations that provide expertise and guidance to governments, EU institutions and UN agencies coordinating response efforts to support children affected by the war.

We have worked closely with:

• The EU and national governments in the EU Education Solidarity Group, the Child Rights Intergroup and various MEPs at the European Parliament, and the EU Child Rights Forum;
• UNICEF and UNHCR through the regional Child Protection Sub Working Group;
• International civil society coalitions such as the Global Subgroup on Ukraine Children’s Care, the Children’s Rights Action Group, the EU Alliance for Investing in Children and the European Expert Group for Deinstitutionalisation.

We develop and amplify evidence to prioritise children’s rights in the EU and regional responses to the war

Since March, we have gathered evidence from more than 100 members during our ‘Open Spaces for Solidarity’ sessions on the key issues affecting children due to the invasion of Ukraine.

In partnership with UNICEF, we coordinated analyses supporting the efforts of the EU and the Ukrainian government to ensure the care of children without parental care fleeing Ukraine. This work has influenced the EU guidance on coordinating registration and provision of care for unaccompanied and separated children, and children in institutional care. We have presented these findings to international policymakers, and just recently to the Government of Ukraine’s Coordinating Headquarters for the Protection of Children’s Rights in Martial Law in Kyiv.[1]

As part of a global coalition of civil society leaders in the field of alternative care, Eurochild’s analyses have informed the development of key considerations and recommendations for children’s care in Ukraine and resulting from the invasion (also recently translated to Ukrainian). We are also influencing EU efforts towards greater integration of EU countries’ child protection systems.

As members of the EU Education Solidarity Group, Eurochild and our members worked with the European Commission to co-create the guidance on supporting the inclusion of displaced children from Ukraine during the school year 2022-2023.

We work with members and experts to meet the immediate needs of the children fleeing Ukraine

• We have assited Polina Klykova in publishing a brochure based on statistics and private stories about the impact of war on children’s rights.
• In Poland, we have been working with Happy Kids Foundation and the Polish Foster Care Coalition to support their efforts to provide children arriving from institutions with the quality community- and family-based care they deserve.
• Our ICAM project developed resources for primary and secondary schools across Europe to include displaced from Ukraine. These resources have been highlighted by the EU as an inspiring practice for promoting inclusion.
• We have welcomed Voices of Children Ukraine into our network and we are providing peer support as they scale up their advocacy to become a leading voice for children in Ukraine.
• We have also worked with Polish psychologist Alicja Safarzynska to design and distribute Heroes Cry Too, a trauma-informed colouring book for young Ukrainian children to help talk about the war.

Across the region, the devastating impacts of war, destruction and loss are coupled with heightened hardship for children and families bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis. Moreover, the widespread social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still being felt within health, education and social protection systems.

With the war in Ukraine in its 9^th month, Eurochild’s work to drive systemic change – with and for all children in Europe – is needed more than ever. We will continue to work at the crossroads with national and global civil society organisations, national governments, EU institutions, INGOs and academia to drive systemic change for all of Europe’s most vulnerable children.

[1] At invitation of UNHCR, the findings were presented during the Thematic Roundtable Discussion on Child Rights: Ukrainian Children without Parental Care in the EU and Moldova, Kyiv, 3 October 2022.

This publication is the first one in a series of combined notes about childhood during the war with a key focus on the reporting on violations of children’s rights: right to live and survive, right to health and development, right to be protected from abuse and exploitation, right to family in the context of abductions and deportations.

The purpose of the brochure, which is part of the childrenrights.info initiative run by Polina, is to communicate the situation of children during the conflict in Ukraine with a hope to strengthen the call to action, to ensure children’s rights and well-being are prioritised and to review some approaches to child protection.

The publication features stories such as the one of Daryna, 13, who lost her father and was shot by Russian troops, but survived as she pretended to be dead. Nowadays, she lives with her mother and her younger sister.

Many children have been killed or injured by shelling, shooting or by mine explosions. According to the Ukrainian National Bureau, thousands of children have been separated by their families and are now in Russia. Many travelled alone within Ukraine and across the borders with the EU without their parents or legal guardians.

Warning: the content of the publication might be distressing.

Read the brochure

Further readings:

• Nowhere to go back to – Eurochild Portuguese member Sérgio Costa Araújo interviews Polina Klykova, Eurochild member from Kyiv on the situation in Ukraine.
• Solidarity with Children of Ukraine Hub – Read our statements and resources