"Most of my friends were drafted into the Russian army": Ukraine brings back three teenagers from Russian-occupied territories
Three Ukrainian teenagers have been brought back from Russian-occupied territories. One of them, a young man, had been forced to hide constantly to avoid being sent to serve in the Russian armed forces, while a young woman developed heart problems due to stress.
Source: Bring Kids Back UA initiative
Details: Eighteen-year-old Viktoriia (all names changed for safety reasons) has returned home. Her final year at school was overshadowed by Russian propaganda and the Russian national anthem. The teachers refused to even mention the Ukrainian language.
The students were constantly being told in lessons that Ukraine had "abandoned them" and that they now had to "repay their debt to their new homeland".
Eighteen-year-old Maryna had lived under occupation since the early days of the full-scale invasion. The constant stress of living amid explosions and fearing for her life caused her to develop serious heart problems.
When volunteers from Bring Kids Back UA learned about Maryna's situation, they arranged a safe route for her return to Ukraine and someone to accompany her.
Nineteen-year-old Mykhailo grew up without parents and was left alone under occupation. Most of his friends were drafted into the Russian armed forces, so he had to go into hiding to avoid being conscripted.
A close friend in Ukrainian-controlled territory gave Mykhailo the contact details for Bring Kids Back UA. Together with his cat Miki – the only family he still had – he managed to escape.
The young people are now having their documents reissued, undergoing medical examinations and receiving mental health support. They plan to enrol in Ukrainian universities.
Background:
- Last week, Ukraine brought back 22 children and teenagers from occupied territories. They had endured fear, pressure and humiliation under Russian control.
- Earlier, it was reported that the Russians forced 48 children to undergo psychiatric treatment for so-called "extremism" in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!