Poshyvaylo-Towler: Act to stop Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainian children

Address by Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler, UWC Vice President for Southern and Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Türkiye, and Lebanon, at a pro-Ukraine rally in Melbourne on Feb. 24. 

Dear Ukrainians and Friends of Ukraine,

This rally, along with hundreds of other events across over 70 countries, is registered on the global event map as part of the large-scale advocacy campaign “Stand With Ukraine! Unite for Ukrainian Victory!” organised by the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC).

As a mother, a woman, the Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress, and the Chairwoman of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Victoria, I stand here today with a heavy heart but with unwavering determination. We, as mothers, as women, as a democratic society, cannot remain silent while Russia commits one of the gravest crimes of our time – the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Since 2014, at least 19,546 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred and deported to Russia. Russian officials claim a much higher number – over 700,000 children – have been taken since the full-scale invasion in 2022. These children have been stolen from their homes, stripped of their Ukrainian heritage, and forced into Kremlin indoctrination camps. Many are given new identities, their past erased, while their families are left in despair, searching for their sons and daughters. This is a deliberate attack on Ukraine’s future.

We cannot allow history to repeat itself. The forced transfer of children is a war crime. Olexandra Matviychuk reminds us that “justice is not automatic – it must be fought for, demanded, and enforced.” 

The International Criminal Court has already issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, but this is only the beginning. Every war criminal responsible for these atrocities must be held accountable.

As Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress, has stated: “There is no peace without justice. No negotiations with war criminals. No compromise when children’s lives and futures are at stake.”

We demand:

• The immediate return of all Ukrainian children illegally taken to Russia!
• Stronger sanctions and international pressure to stop Russia’s crimes!
• Justice – every war criminal must be prosecuted and held accountable!

Ukraine’s fight is the world’s fight. If these crimes go unpunished, dictators everywhere will be emboldened. We, as women and defenders of human rights, will not allow this.

We will not stop. We will not be silent. We will not rest until every Ukrainian child is brought home, until every war criminal is held accountable, and until justice prevails.

Slava Ukraini! Героям Слава!