Ukraine returned three more children from occupation
Photo: Ukraine returned three more children from the occupation (illustration/Getty Images)
Three more Ukrainian children have been successfully brought back from Russian occupation. The children come from families in Mariupol and southern Ukraine, according to the Telegram channel of Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President.
Family from Mariupol
Andriy Yermak shared that a young family from Mariupol was caught in the war's crossfire at the onset of the full-scale invasion.
"Their eldest son was only four years old at the time. They couldn’t leave the city and were forced to remain under occupation. In September 2022, their daughter was born," the head of the President's Office recounted.
According to Yermak, the father of the family is a serviceman in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, putting the entire family at risk. They spent over two years hiding daily to avoid persecution, struggling to survive.
"Today (November 23), the six-year-old boy, his two-year-old sister, and their parents have left danger behind. They are beginning a new chapter in life," Yermak stated.
Family from southern Ukraine
A couple and their six-month-old son were living in their village in southern Ukraine when the invasion began. The father immediately joined the Armed Forces to defend the country but was captured by Russian forces within months. While in captivity, he was tortured — beaten, subjected to electric shocks, and forced to sing the Russian national anthem.
"He had no contact with his family. The mother stayed at home with their infant son. Their village fell under occupation, and leaving became increasingly difficult. The mother had to hide from the occupiers daily, fearing for her son's life and praying for her husband's return," Yermak explained.
After the father was freed from captivity, the family faced new challenges: the Russians refused to let the mother and child leave the occupied territory, taking them in for interrogations.
"After numerous attempts, the family managed to reunite. They are now learning to live together after years of separation and hardship. The son, who was told stories of his heroic father, can finally see him by his side," the head of the President's Office noted.
War in Ukraine
Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Alongside killing Ukrainian civilians, Russian troops deported tens of thousands of children from occupied territories.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, as well as for Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova.
It’s worth noting that during more than 1,000 days of the full-scale war, Russia has deported over 19,500 Ukrainian children. To date, 1,012 children have been successfully returned home.
