Ukraine hopes that South Africa's participation in the recent Pathways to Peace conference in Toronto will lead to progress in returning abducted Ukrainian children. The conference, organized by Canada, Ukraine, and Norway, aimed to strengthen international support for efforts to bring people home and protect those under Russian control. South Africa's intelligence adviser, Sydney Mufamadi, and Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Zane Dangor, represented the country at the conference.
President Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly discussed the conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in India earlier in September. Ramaphosa has been actively involved in trying to secure the release of the abducted children, having raised the issue with Putin on multiple occasions. In April 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky provided Ramaphosa with a list of 400 abducted children, which he asked South Africa to help return.
According to Ukrainian authorities, 20,651 records of possible unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia have been confirmed, with 2,573 children returned to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Association of South Africa expressed hope that South Africa's participation in the conference will lead to the return of the 400 children on the list provided to Ramaphosa.
Ukraine's ambassador to South Africa, Olexander Scherba, welcomed South Africa's participation in the conference, saying that any public condemnation of Russia's actions would be significant. Scherba also expressed hope that the exchange of lists with children's names between South Africa and Russia will eventually lead to results and the children being returned home.
The Ukrainian Association of South Africa emphasized that children from occupied territories, especially those forcibly deported, are subjected to daily indoctrination and militarization. They urged South Africa to use its influence to help return the children, highlighting the risks associated with their transfer to Russia, including the risk of militarization and conditioning for military service.
South Africa has previously abstained from UN General Assembly resolutions criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine but broke ranks in December 2025 to support a resolution demanding Russia's immediate release of the abducted Ukrainian children. This shift in stance has been seen as an encouraging sign by Ukraine.
The outcome of South Africa's efforts to help return the abducted Ukrainian children remains to be seen. Key points include South Africa's participation in the Pathways to Peace conference, Ramaphosa's discussions with Putin, and the exchange of lists with children's names between South Africa and Russia.
Key points
- South Africa's participation in the Pathways to Peace conference
- Ramaphosa's discussions with Putin on the abducted children
- Exchange of lists with children's names between South Africa and Russia
