Ukraine brings back 12 more children from occupied territories

"These children, together with their relatives, were living in the temporarily occupied territories - in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Fortunately, they are now in the territory controlled by Ukraine," he said.

According to the Ombudsman, each family experienced the chaos caused by the occupiers in their own way. For example, families reported being forced to take Russian passports, as without "new documents" they could not access any social guarantees or healthcare.

"Even children with congenital defects, who especially need care, cannot see a doctor. However, parents are offered to send their children for 'rehabilitation,' which often turns out to be deportation or forced relocation. Some children had to attend Russian schools where there was active propaganda for the 'Russian world,'" Lubinets said.

According to those who have returned, Russians in the TOT detain, beat, torture with electricity, apply psychological pressure on adults, and interrogate children without the presence of parents, using torture. There are also regular, unjustified searches of residents' homes.

"The story of a returned boy who, planning his future, left the TOT because he wants to become a Ukrainian rescuer and receive education at his dream higher education institution, was particularly striking," he said.

Return of Ukrainian children

After the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia began the practice of deporting Ukrainians to Russia or Belarus.

The return of children to Ukraine is a painstaking process. Nevertheless, from time to time, it is possible to return children of this category to Ukraine.

For example, in May, Ukraine returned 13 children with their families from the temporarily occupied territories by Russia. In June, seven more Ukrainian children who had been living in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region returned home.