Last week, 16 children were rescued from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, where they had lived for years under Russian control and endured both psychological and physical pressure. The news was reported by Andriy Yermak, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Among those rescued was a 17-year-old daughter of a Ukrainian serviceman. Her mother had been held in a basement for three days without food or water, subjected to searches and a polygraph test, all accompanied by threats. Another 17-year-old boy was almost forcibly mobilized by Russian security forces without his parents’ consent — he was placed on military records instead of being allowed to attend school.
A two-year-old girl with a high fever was denied access to a hospital. Her mother had to carry her across a pontoon bridge in the dark. Another family with a 14-year-old daughter managed to leave at the very last moment, as the occupation authorities threatened to confiscate their apartment. At a checkpoint, the girl was forced to delete all Ukrainian channels from her phone before they were allowed to pass.
Currently, the children and their families are receiving assistance — restoring their documents, undergoing psychological rehabilitation, and gradually starting a new life. Their return was made possible through the President of Ukraine’s initiative Bring Kids Back UA, in cooperation with the organization Save Ukraine.
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