Ukraine Repatriates Five More Children from Occupied Areas, Bringing Total to 1,985

Children Returned from Occupied Territories

According to Главком: Ukraine has successfully brought back another five children from temporarily occupied territories and the Russian Federation. The total number of children repatriated since the start of the full-scale invasion has now reached 1,985. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, announced the successful completion of this latest phase of the mission.

The new group consists of five minors ranging in age from 4 to 15 years old. This repatriation was made possible through the active efforts of the Ombudsman's Office team under the framework of the Ukrainian President's 'Bring Kids Back UA' initiative. The non-governmental organization Save Ukraine also contributed to the process. Dmytro Lubinets highlighted the significant role played by former First Lady of the United States Melania Trump, who helped secure humanitarian support for Ukraine's initiatives concerning the return of children. The repatriation of children forcibly taken during the war is a complex and sensitive diplomatic process.

Stories of the Returned Children

• Among those returned are a brother and sister, aged 4 and 6, who were abducted by the occupiers from a Kherson children's home as infants. Their mother had not seen them for four years.
• A seven-year-old boy, a ward of the same children's home whom Russian forces deported during the city's occupation, was also returned. His mother never stopped fighting until she was able to embrace her son again.
• A nine-year-old boy ended up in Russia with his mother, who later died from a serious illness. After unsuccessful attempts by his grandfather to retrieve the child, the boy was finally reunited with his uncle in Ukraine.

Returning children abducted during the war is a vital step in restoring their family bonds and helping them return to a normal life. This mission underscores the efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and international partners to protect the rights of children who have become victims of the war. It also demonstrates Ukraine's ongoing commitment to repatriating its citizens who remain outside the country, particularly under the conditions of armed conflict.