Ukraine returns seven more children from four families from occupied territory
Photo: Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets (Facebook)
Seven children have been successfully evacuated from Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, and their families are now free, according to a statement from Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.
According to Lubinets, four families from the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions lived under the pressure of Russian occupation. They managed to break free thanks to the implementation of the Ukrainian President's action plan, Bring Kids Back UA.
"While in the temporarily occupied territories, families were forced to comply with the occupiers' harsh conditions — obtaining Russian passports, sending their children to Russian schools where they were taught false history, and even being made to try on the uniforms of the invaders," Lubinets wrote.
He explained that every day in occupation was a trial for the families: fear of armed searches, interrogations, threats of losing parental rights and having their children taken away, as well as the collapse of their businesses and decent livelihoods.
Photo: children returned to Ukraine (t.me/dmytro_lubinetzs)
Photo: children returned to Ukraine (t.me/dmytro_lubinetzs)
Photo: children returned to Ukraine (t.me/dmytro_lubinetzs)
Photo: children returned to Ukraine (t.me/dmytro_lubinetzs)
The families have now returned to Ukraine, where they were welcomed by regional representatives of the Ombudsman's office to assist with addressing their immediate needs after their return.
The children, in particular, require enrollment in schools, psychological and humanitarian aid, as well as social integration. The state, together with responsible civic and charitable organizations, will provide everything necessary to create a stable environment for the growth of these young Ukrainians.
Deportation of Ukrainian children
As Lubinets previously stated, Russia has abducted over 20,000 Ukrainian children. He also mentioned that there is a risk of deportation for an additional 1.5 million children living in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. According to Lubinets, the process of returning these children is extremely challenging.
In 2022, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the deportation of Ukrainian children.
