Another 15 children and teenagers brought back from Russian occupation after fear, threats and pressure

Another 15 children and teenagers have been brought back from territories temporarily occupied by Russia. Some of them had been living without water and food because of constant attacks, while others endured interrogations by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSS).

Source: Bring Kids Back UA initiative

Details: Among those brought back is 19-year-old Yaroslav. FSS representatives held him in a basement and interrogated him through the night. The Russians tried to force him to join their Armed Forces.

Iryna, 18, was unable to leave her home for days at a time under occupation because attacks did not stop in her home town. She was left without food for some time because Russian soldiers aggressively persecuted civilians, including young women. It was only after reaching adulthood that Iryna managed to leave the occupation.

Because his family had no way to leave territory under Russian control, nine-year-old Nazar spent four years living under constant attacks. Occupying forces set up positions just a few hundred metres from their home, so shells regularly flew past the house. Mines struck the family's yard more than once.

Quote from the Bring Kids Back UA initiative: "These children, along with 12 others, have now been given a chance at a new life. All of them are staying in our Hope and Recovery centres and are receiving psychological support, help with documents, accommodation and care – everything they need to get their childhood and peace back…

All of them went through fear, threats and pressure, but are finally safe now."

More details: The Bring Kids Back UA initiative added that hundreds of thousands of children still remain under occupation, where the Russian authorities are increasing pressure, trying to forcibly mobilise teenagers and making it harder for them to return to territory under Ukrainian control.

Background:

• Three teenage boys from temporarily occupied Melitopol who were accused of "terrorism" have been given prison sentences by a Russian court. These young people were tried as Russian citizens.
• Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets has sent letters to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights calling to provide a clear international legal assessment of Russia's actions.

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