NEW DELHI: A day before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India, India abstained from voting on a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution demanding an end to Russia’s forced relocation of Ukrainian children.The 193-member Assembly adopted the draft resolution ‘Return of Ukrainian children’ on Wednesday, with 91 votes in favour, 12 against, and 57 — including India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s — abstentions.The resolution demanded that Russia “ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported” and urged Moscow to cease, without delay, any further practice of forcible transfer, deportation, separation from families and legal guardians, change of personal status, including through citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.It stressed the need to investigate and ensure accountability for those responsible for forcible transfers and deportations of children, in accordance with international law. The resolution deplored the legislative and administrative measures taken by Russia since 2022 that “simplify” the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for Ukrainian children, particularly orphans, children deprived of parental care and unaccompanied children.Ukraine’s deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, presenting the draft resolution at the 11th emergency special session of UNGA, said as of Oct 2025, there are 6,395 deported and forcibly transferred children. In total, over 20,000 cases of deportation and forcible transfer are being investigated.Russia’s deputy Permanent Representative Maria Zabolotskaya, in her remarks in UNGA, said the draft resolution is stuffed with “mendacious accusations”, adding it contains baseless allegations of Russia’s violations of international humanitarian law and does not mention that there may be children evacuated from combat zone or those who lost ties with their relatives, which in no way can be regarded as violations.UNGA President Annalena Baerbock said since Feb 2022, when Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Assembly has reiterated its calls, across eight resolutions adopted during its 11th Emergency Special Session, for immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory.
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