Ukraine brings back 12 children and teenagers from occupied territories

Ukraine has brought back 12 children and teenagers from temporarily occupied territories, including a boy who had no access to life-saving medication and a girl whose sister was forcibly taken to a so-called "summer camp".

Source: Bring Kids Back UA initiative; Save Ukraine charity

Details: Among those rescued is 12-year-old Daryna (all names have been changed for security reasons), who had not left her home for almost four years to avoid being forced to attend a Russian school. Throughout that time, the girl secretly took part in online classes following the Ukrainian curriculum, despite the risk that occupying forces could carry out inspections and check her phone.

Also brought back home is 12-year-old Yehor, who has suffered from epilepsy since childhood and requires regular treatment. After his city was occupied, medical care became unavailable: the local hospital was closed and looted, and the necessary medicines could not be obtained.

Veronika, 19, was also evacuated. While still at school, she was forced to study according to a curriculum built around Russian propaganda. She was pressured to travel to so-called "summer camps" in Crimea. She refused, but the occupation authorities forcibly took her younger sister there. Their mother had to travel in person to retrieve the child.

Four-year-old Emilia was also brought back to Ukrainian government-controlled territory. At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, she was still an infant. Her family lived in constant fear and remained in hiding throughout the occupation. The girl did not attend kindergarten – the nearest one was in a neighbouring village, and her parents refused to obtain Russian documents.

Background: Last week, 19 children and teenagers were brought back from temporarily occupied territories. Among them were a 19-year-old girl who had been harassed and pursued by Russian soldiers, and an 18-year-old boy who received a conscription notice from the occupation authorities.

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