Ukraine's Ongoing Efforts to Repatriate Children from Occupation
Ukraine has successfully repatriated two children from Russian occupation: a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, announced Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office of Ukraine.
Two More Children Repatriated from Occupation
The 14-year-old girl was at risk of being sent to a Russian institution. Her return was made possible thanks to the efforts of her aunt and older sister.
The 17-year-old boy lived with his family under shelling for almost two years and suffered a concussion.
“We will not stop until every Ukrainian child is safe. Step by step, we are fulfilling the President's task - to bring all children home without exceptions or conditions,” Yermak emphasized.
He also thanked the “Ukrainian Network for Child Rights” for their assistance in organizing the repatriation of the children.
In Donetsk Region, 106 Children Still Need Evacuation
In the Donetsk region, 106 children remain in 17 settlements where forced evacuation is ongoing.
“Currently, 106 children are left in 17 settlements of the region... these are children from 75 families,” reported acting head of the Child Affairs Service of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, Yulia Ryzhakova.
The largest number of children yet to be evacuated is from Komar and Shakhiv communities (55 and 46 children respectively).
In the last week, another 30 children were evacuated.
What You Need to Know About the Return of Ukrainians from Russia and TOT Ukraine
On February 4, twelve children were successfully returned from temporarily occupied territories.
On January 28, five children aged between 1.5 and 18 years were repatriated.
On January 7, three children - a 17-year-old boy and two younger boys - were returned from occupied territories.
And on December 9, another child was returned to Ukraine as part of President Zelensky's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, thanks to the partners of the Ukrainian Network for Child Rights.
On November 6, a meeting was held at the Ombudsman’s Office with the families of civilian Ukrainians who are in Russian captivity.
Ukraine has already repatriated over 1000 children from temporarily occupied territories and Russia.
On November 3, the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that Ukraine seeks to obtain from Russia lists of all Ukrainian prisoners of war that the RF is prepared to return urgently.
