Children themselves ask for evacuation due to inaction of responsible authorities – Ombudsman

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Key points

• Occupiers took 10-year-old Sofia from Kostiantynivka to the temporarily occupied territory.
• The child was not evacuated earlier, despite daily shelling of the city – Lubinets is investigating who is responsible for this.
• The law on forced evacuation of children has been in effect since March 4, 2026, but decisions are still being made with delays.
• A child from Druzhkivka herself asked for help to leave – after the intervention of the Ombudsman, she was evacuated with her mother.
• Lubinets sent a request to the Donetsk OVA regarding the circumstances of Sofia’s removal.
• Responsible authorities must make decisions about the evacuation of children in a timely manner, emphasized the Ombudsman.

In Donetsk region, occupiers took 10-year-old Sofia from Kostiantynivka to the temporarily occupied territory, reported the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.

The child lived in a city that is shelled by Russians every day, while the law on forced evacuation of children from dangerous territories has been in effect in Ukraine since March 4, 2026. According to Lubinets, decisions on evacuation in such cases are still being made with delays.

Earlier, a minor from Druzhkivka turned to the Ombudsman, who herself asked for help to leave, as her parents refused to leave the dangerous territory. After the intervention of the Ombudsman, the child was evacuated with her mother.

Regarding the story of Sofia from Kostiantynivka, Lubinets sent a request to the Donetsk Regional Military Administration to establish all the circumstances of the child’s possible removal.

Lubinets noted that responsible authorities must make decisions about the evacuation of children in a timely manner and ensure the departure of all children from territories where there is a threat to their life and health.