The Ukrainian government has approved a significant overhaul of its child welfare regulations, aimed at reintegrating children evacuated from institutional care facilities during the war into family-based care within Ukraine.
The move, spearheaded by the Ministry of Social Policy, reflects a growing national emphasis on restoring stable, nurturing environments for some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens—children who were forced to flee institutional care facilities as a result of the Russian invasion.
Under the new rules, children evacuated abroad from 24-hour care institutions—such as orphanages or residential homes—can now be placed with Ukrainian citizens living inside the country. Previously, these children were generally considered beyond the reach of domestic guardianship once they crossed Ukraine’s borders. The change marks a pivotal shift in approach, broadening the definition of eligible caregivers and strengthening the role of Ukrainian families in the long-term recovery and reintegration of these children.
The legislation updates the existing regulatory framework to prioritise family-based care over institutional placement when a child returns to Ukraine. Until now, reintegration options included foster families, family-type children’s homes (FTCHs), adoptive families, and biological parents—provided the conditions allowed for reunification. With the new amendments, guardians and trustees are now officially recognised as suitable carers, adding a crucial layer of flexibility.
Speaking from Kyiv, Social Policy Minister Oksana Zholnovych described the reforms as “a moral and practical necessity.” She noted that many Ukrainian children evacuated during the height of hostilities remain scattered across Europe, often in temporary institutional settings that lack cultural familiarity and consistent emotional support. “Every Ukrainian child deserves the chance to grow up in a family, to speak their native language, and to maintain ties to their homeland,” Zholnovych said. “These changes are an important step in making that happen.”
The process for assigning guardianship is now more responsive to the needs of both the child and the carer. Decisions will be made by the relevant local children’s services department in the area where the guardian resides. For prospective guardians who are relatives but currently live abroad, approval will be issued by the department at the guardian’s last place of residence in Ukraine before they emigrated. This allows for a more tailored and expeditious assessment of each case.
Crucially, the Ministry has also eased bureaucratic requirements for family members seeking to assume care. Relatives are now exempt from mandatory training courses designed for foster and adoptive parents—courses which were often seen as a deterrent, especially for older carers or those already looking after other displaced children. This change is intended to fast-track the placement of children with familiar and trusted adults, rather than delaying proceedings through red tape.
The Ministry stresses that these changes are not simply legalistic adjustments but are rooted in a growing body of psychological and developmental research. Studies consistently show that children placed in family-based care exhibit better outcomes in terms of mental health, educational achievement, and social integration, compared to those who remain in institutional settings.
Children who fled the country in institutional groups often faced abrupt separations from siblings or peers. The Ministry has made reunification with siblings a key criterion in placement decisions, recognising the stabilising power of family ties. “Some of these children have lost everything,” said Lyudmyla Denysova, a former ombudsman for human rights in Ukraine. “Giving them the chance to live with a relative, or even just a familiar face, can mean the difference between lifelong trauma and healing.”
The reforms are particularly timely as Ukraine braces for the long-term consequences of displacement. While the immediate threat to life has subsided in some parts of the country, the scars of war remain raw. Hundreds of children have lost parents to violence or separation. Others are too young to remember Ukraine as home at all. For them, these policy changes could spell the beginning of a return—not just to a country, but to a childhood.
International observers, including UNICEF and Save the Children, have cautiously welcomed the announcement. However, some warn that the success of the initiative will depend on adequate funding, training for social workers, and robust monitoring to prevent abuse or neglect. “Placing children in families is only the first step,” said one UNICEF official. “Ensuring that those families are safe, supported, and stable is just as critical.”
Nonetheless, the Ukrainian government is optimistic. The Ministry of Social Policy sees this as part of a broader strategy to move away from large-scale institutional care and toward a more humane, individualised system. “We want to send a message,” said Zholnovych. “These children are not forgotten. They are not statistics. They are ours. And we are ready to bring them home.”
As the war grinds on with no definitive end in sight, Kyiv’s focus on the quiet, complex work of rebuilding lives offers a rare note of clarity. For the children returning from exile, it may also mark the first step on a long road to belonging.
