Ukraine Successfully Returns 15 More Children from Russian-Occupied Territories

Fifteen children have been successfully evacuated from territories in Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russian forces, including areas in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Some of the children had faced threats of forced conscription into the Russian military.

This operation was made possible through coordinated efforts between Ukrainian volunteers and the organization Bring Kids Back UA, as confirmed by Mykola Kuleba, founder of the charity Save Ukraine. According to Kuleba, all the children and their families are now safe and receiving necessary support at specialized centers.

“Through collective efforts, we have managed to bring back 538 children who faced extreme challenges due to the occupation,” Kuleba noted.

Several stories highlight the conditions faced by children under occupation:

• Vitalina, a young mother, was forced to stay in her village during her pregnancy when Russian forces arrived. After giving birth, she obtained Russian documents for her child under duress to prevent the child from being taken away.

• Marichka, a teenager, attended a Russian school where she had to learn propagandist poems. At 18, she was given an ultimatum: accept Russian citizenship or leave for Ukraine on foot without assistance.

• Sasha and her mother faced pressure from Russian forces. Sasha was encouraged to read Russian propaganda books, while her mother was compelled to return to work at a local children’s camp under threat.

• Olena evacuated her family after her home was submerged due to the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Her son, deeply affected by the events, began showing signs of depression.

• Kyrylo, 17, was issued a conscription notice by Russian forces, who claimed he was a “newly minted Russian citizen.”

• Kateryna, fearing for her son’s forced conscription, arranged for their safe evacuation to Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Ukrainian officials report that more than 20,000 children have been forcibly taken to Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion. The Office of the Prosecutor General has also warned of risks for 1.5 million children currently in Russian-occupied areas.

In late October, six children aged 8 to 16 were evacuated from Kherson, including two girls and four boys. Earlier, seven children, including two orphans, were returned with their families to safety.