Rescue and Return from Temporarily Occupied Territories
Twenty-one Ukrainian citizens have been brought back from temporarily occupied areas, including three families from the Kherson region and one family evacuated through Georgia and Moldova. Upon their return, these families received support such as housing, documentation, and medical care. The evacuation efforts were backed by the international company MHP and its founder, Yuriy Kosiuk.
The three Kherson families reunited to form a close-knit group. One family, which journeyed through Georgia and Moldova to escape, consists of a Ukrainian man, his father, and two young daughters. Notably, the mother of these children was detained and convicted due to her pro-Ukrainian stance. Two of the three families had members who remain in the occupied territories because of serious health issues.
Post-Return Assistance and Integration
After arriving home, the families were provided with shared accommodation through collaboration between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Rokada Charitable Foundation. Dmitry Lubez, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Human Rights Commissioner, emphasized the importance of keeping these families together, especially as some include individuals with disabilities who could not independently secure housing.
Various organizations contributed to the return process, including:
- The International Committee of the Red Cross
- Caritas Ukraine International Charity Fund
- Rokada Charitable Foundation
- Government agencies
- Humanitarian groups
- Medical and social workers
Lubez highlighted that each repatriation involves much more than transport—it requires document restoration, safe route planning, and coordination among state bodies and partners.
The situation in Oleshky and nearby villages in Kherson remains dire. Residents face ongoing dangers, shortages of medicine and food, and severely limited safe passage out of the area. The Ombudsman receives daily appeals for assistance in evacuating people from this region and is actively working with partners to identify evacuation routes.
“Every day, I receive requests to help people leave this area. We carefully review each case, collaborate with government and international partners, and explore all possible options for bringing our citizens home,” stated Dmitry Lubez.
This crisis demands the attention of the international community, as local populations continue to endure serious hardships in their daily lives.
The recent successful return of these citizens demonstrates the combined humanitarian efforts of Ukrainian and international organizations addressing war-related challenges. Nonetheless, the region’s circumstances remain critical, with numerous evacuation requests underscoring the urgent need for support. Returning home is not only a physical journey for these individuals but also a crucial step toward reclaiming their rights and securing a safe future.
As the situation in Oleshky and surrounding villages remains critical, the challenges faced during evacuation efforts highlight the urgency of humanitarian missions. For a deeper understanding of the ongoing issues and the obstacles to civilian evacuations, read more about the current evacuation challenges in Oleshky.