Half his life under occupation: Ukraine brings back 20-year-old man from Crimea

A 20-year-old man who spent nearly half his life in Russian-occupied Crimea has been brought back to Ukraine. The young man had to hide to avoid being drafted into the Russian army.

Source: Bring Kids Back UA initiative

Details: When Russia occupied Crimea in 2014, he was only 11 years old. He grew up in an environment where singing a Ukrainian song or speaking Ukrainian could lead to being summoned by the Russian authorities for questioning. Over the years, the pressure only increased.

In 2024, he received a call-up notice to serve in the Russian army. Before that, he was forced to go through a so-called "medical examination" for military service, was repeatedly summoned by the police for questioning, was fined several times, and was ordered to sign a "pledge not to leave the country".

To avoid forced mobilisation, the young man worked unofficially and constantly went into hiding.

He was able to leave the occupied territory thanks to a friend living in government-controlled Ukraine, who contacted the Ukrainian Child Rights Network for help. The rescue operation was planned together with volunteers.

"He couldn't hold back his emotions when he saw the Ukrainian flag and heard the language he can now speak freely," Bring Kids Back UA reported.

Previously: Three Ukrainian teenagers were brought back from Russian-occupied territories.

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