However youngsters on each side of the border proceed to undergo the penalties of Russia’s invasion.
Forward of the Worldwide Day of Harmless Kids Victims of Aggression, noticed yearly on 4 June, UN Information spoke to the Secretary-Basic’s Particular Consultant for Kids and Armed Battle, Vanessa Frazier, following her current visits to Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
She mirrored on what she witnessed, the challenges going through youngsters affected by the war and the significance of defending younger lives, wherever they might be dwelling.
This interview has been edited for readability and size.
UN Information: You’ve not too long ago come again from Ukraine. What struck you most about the affect of the war on youngsters and their households?
Vanessa Frazier: The war in Ukraine may be very robust. I used to be struck by a number of points. First, youngsters are impacted disproportionately, particularly in terms of training.
The war began proper after COVID, so youngsters had already had two years of on-line education, and lots of have continued for an additional 4 years as a result of they’re unable to go to highschool safely. For youngsters to have spent six years in complete in on-line education is one thing that struck me, as a mom.
At the similar time, the effort made by the Authorities of Ukraine and native authorities, supported by UNICEF and NGOs, is unimaginable. The underground colleges and metro colleges are outstanding initiatives designed to permit youngsters to proceed studying safely.
UN Information: You additionally travelled to Russia. What have been your primary messages to the Russian authorities relating to the safety of youngsters in the context of this battle?
Ms. Frazier: Once I went to Russia, I used to be sporting two hats. As the Particular Consultant for Kids and Armed Battle, I spoke particularly about the six grave violations in opposition to youngsters.
The Russian armed forces are listed for 2 grave violations: killing and maiming of youngsters, and assaults on colleges and hospitals. The Safety Council resolutions that outline our mandate are very clear that when a celebration to a battle is listed, the solely method that occasion could be delisted is to enter right into a time-bound dedication plan with the United Nations to finish and stop grave violations in opposition to youngsters.
These commitments have to be verified by the UN as having been applied.
I used to be additionally there in relation to the Basic Meeting decision adopted on 3 December 2025 regarding lacking Ukrainian youngsters.
The decision tasked the good workplaces of the Secretary-Basic with coordinating UN businesses, participating with the Russian Federation for the fast and unconditional return of the youngsters, guaranteeing entry to Ukrainian youngsters wherever they might be and conserving Member States concerned.
The Secretary-Basic has determined that his good workplaces might be represented by means of my workplace. Due to this fact, whereas in Russia, I additionally held discussions on the lacking Ukrainian youngsters. I had entry to some Ukrainian youngsters on Russian territory, which was organized by the Russian Federation. We additionally visited the frontline metropolis of Belgorod.
Vanessa Frazier, Particular Consultant on Kids and Armed Battle, throughout a go to to frontline areas in Ukraine.
UN Information: Can you share something about progress on both the commitments course of or implementation of the decision?
Ms. Frazier: The Russian Federation was very open to our discussions. There nonetheless must be negotiation on how we’ll agree on the commitments that must be carried out. The Russian Federation did unilaterally supply a set of commitments that it’s prepared to undertake, which is constructive.
Concerning the lacking Ukrainian youngsters, I had fruitful discussions with the Commissioner for Kids. We should proceed these negotiations. These are particular person circumstances, and any dedication have to be made in the greatest pursuits of the child.
UN Information: Usually, the United Nations can’t independently confirm the full affect of the battle in Russia, however you have been in a position to go to a frontline metropolis. What issues did you hear there?
Ms. Frazier: This was not a verification mission, which needs to be carried out beneath very strict situations. Nevertheless it was nonetheless crucial to be there and to have entry.
In Belgorod, I visited colleges, a kindergarten, a sports activities centre and a paediatric hospital. At the hospital, docs defined the varieties of accidents they have been treating and spoke about deaths that they had seen.
This can be a war, and when there may be war, there are victims on each aspect. Below our mandate, we don’t distinguish between perpetrator and defender. For us, youngsters are being killed consequently of war, irrespective of the place they’re.
UN Information: In Ukraine, youngsters have now spent years dwelling with frequent sirens, displacement and uncertainty. What are your issues about the psychosocial penalties?
Ms. Frazier: I visited frontline areas, and situations on the Ukrainian aspect are extra precarious. I travelled not solely to Kharkiv but additionally to the city of Zolochiv, which is as near the entrance line as one can get.
Kharkiv advantages from intensive underground infrastructure, together with former Soviet-era shelters and huge metro stations. I visited a faculty working in a metro station.
It was great to see youngsters interacting once more. Social interplay is important for psychosocial and psychological wellbeing. In Kharkiv, the sirens are steady, making above-ground education impractical. In Zolochiv, youngsters stay in on-line education however can attend child-friendly areas in shelters after lessons. Supported by UNICEF and donor international locations, these areas present psychologists, artwork remedy, sports activities actions and mine-awareness classes.
I met a number of youngsters there. One 12-year-old woman informed me that solely two days earlier she had been sitting at her desk doing on-line education. She received up to fetch a glass of water, and moments later the space the place she had been sitting was struck.
She understood that had she remained at her desk, she wouldn’t have been there chatting with us. It was a really impactful story, and there are lots of extra prefer it.
UN Information: Are there explicit teams of youngsters who’re particularly susceptible?
Ms. Frazier: Kids with disabilities are at all times extra susceptible. Nevertheless, I used to be very impressed by the initiatives I noticed in Ukraine as a result of they have been totally accessible.
On condition that many youngsters have been maimed by the battle, the quantity of youngsters dwelling with disabilities has elevated. Throughout our mandate, we advocate for accessibility to be totally built-in into reconstruction efforts. I noticed important consideration being paid to this challenge in Ukraine.
UN Information: Did you see alternatives for humanitarian cooperation between the two sides, notably on points affecting youngsters?
Ms. Frazier: Throughout my go to to Belgorod, I used to be reminded how shut the area is to Kharkiv.
Earlier than the war, folks moved between the two cities commonly. For some residents of Belgorod, it was simpler to acquire sure providers or items in Kharkiv than in Moscow.
I additionally visited an Orthodox church and spoke with a priest who described how intertwined households are throughout the border. Many individuals from Belgorod are married to folks from Kharkiv. You would really feel the unhappiness. This isn’t a battle between distant populations; it includes communities which might be culturally and personally shut to 1 one other.
Broken books are piled up inside a destroyed classroom in Kherson, Ukraine.
UN Information: Is sufficient being executed to maintain the safety of youngsters at the centre of efforts associated to the war?
Ms. Frazier: In Ukraine, we’ve a joint safety plan, and it’s proving profitable.
Whereas assaults proceed, we aren’t seeing as many child victims as we in any other case may.
That’s as a result of the safety plan is working. It ought to serve for example for related conditions elsewhere. The Ukrainian authorities take child safety very critically.
In Belgorod, I additionally noticed protecting measures in colleges, kindergartens and hospitals. Faculties have been lined with anti-drone nets, home windows have been lined with shatterproof movie, and shelters have been stocked with meals and water. There may be consideration on each side to defending their very own youngsters. What we want extra emphasis on is defending one another’s youngsters.
We’re notably involved about weapons reminiscent of cluster munitions and landmines, which trigger many civilian casualties, together with amongst youngsters.
UN Information: What steps would you wish to see from the worldwide group to raised shield youngsters affected by the war?
Ms. Frazier: Extra help for training is important. Many donor international locations are already stepping up, which is encouraging. Schooling is a key precedence all through our mandate as a result of it helps youngsters cope with trauma and gives a way of normality.
Kids mustn’t have to decide on between security and training. The extra underground colleges that may be established, the higher. Schooling can also be essential for restoration and for constructing an enduring peace. At this time’s youngsters will develop into tomorrow’s leaders, and they are going to be liable for sustaining peace.
This can be a war that shouldn’t be occurring. I echo the Secretary-Basic’s requires a ceasefire and a negotiated resolution.
Kids are struggling the devastating penalties of selections taken by adults. We see this in each battle, however particularly in a full-scale war reminiscent of this one. It should cease as quickly as doable. It ought to by no means have began.
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