Kelly Rutherford Devastated By Child Custody Ruling

"Gossip Girl" star Kelly Rutherford just suffered an enormous loss in family court ... a judge just ruled her ex-husband can keep their 2 kids in France, where he is living ... and sources say shes "devastated."

Kelly was fighting to bring her kids back to the U.S. Her ex, Daniel Giersch, lives in France and can't come back to the U.S. because his visa has been revoked.

The judge ruled Kelly has a flexible schedule and can go back and forth to France to spend time with her kids. The court gave Kelly the right to have the children -- ages 5 and 3 -- 50% of the time.

But Kelly doesn't see it that way. Sources tell us she believes it's virtually impossible now for her to spend meaningful time with the kids, given the enormous travel commitments that would be involved.