Ukraine rescues four more children from Russian occupation
Illustrative photo: Ukraine returns four more children from occupation (Getty Images)
Ukraine has successfully recovered four more children from Russian-occupied territories as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, according to Andriy Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office.
"As part of President Zelenskyy's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, we managed to bring home four children who were trapped under Russian occupation," Yermak stated.
According to him, each rescued child has their own story of resilience:
- A 17-year-old boy openly resisted Russification, showing unwavering loyalty to Ukraine despite threats to his life.
- 15-year-old twins avoided forced education in Russian propaganda-filled schools thanks to their grandfather's bravery and determination.
- A 10-year-old boy who lost his parents in a shelling attack was at risk of being sent to an orphanage, but his grandmother managed to rescue him.
"I sincerely thank the Save Ukraine team for organizing the rescue mission and their dedication to saving our children. Every successful return is a step toward justice and hope. We will not stop until every Ukrainian child is safe," Yermak emphasized.
Deportation of Ukrainian children
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Russian forces have forcibly deported thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus, and occupied Crimea.
According to Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, over 19,500 Ukrainian children have been deported since the war began. More than 1,000 have been successfully returned home.
Notably, the deportation of Ukrainian children was one of the key reasons behind the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issuing an arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.
