Ukraine brings back 15 children and teenagers from Russian occupation

Last week, 15 children and teenagers were brought back to Ukraine from Russian-occupied territories, where they had been forced to attend Russian schools, subjected to propaganda and pressured to obey armed personnel.

Source: Bring Kids Back UA, a Ukrainian government-led effort to bring Ukrainian children home from temporarily Russian-occupied territories

Details: The children are now receiving all necessary assistance.

Among those rescued was 19-year-old Myron, who consistently refused to attend a Russian school. As a result, he was repeatedly approached by officers from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

To avoid being conscripted into the Russian military, he had to enrol in a technical college. Despite this, the Russians interrogated Myron on several occasions and repeatedly tried to pressure him into signing a military contract.

Kateryna, 18, was also brought back to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Despite living under occupation, she secretly continued her studies remotely at a Ukrainian school.

Armed Russian soldiers repeatedly came to her family's home, conducted searches and seized her father's car.

Oleksandr, 18, also escaped from occupation. He openly challenged Russian propaganda at school. During so-called "anti-terrorist exercises", children were forced to lie face down on the floor at gunpoint and taught to obey armed people without question.

After receiving another summons from a military enlistment office, the young man made the final decision to leave the occupied territory.

Quote: "For these and 12 other children, occupation is now behind them. They are currently undergoing reintegration at Hope and Recovery centres, where they receive psychological support, assistance with documents, safe accommodation and the care needed for a new beginning."

Background: In March, a 14-year-old girl and her mother were brought back from the temporarily occupied territory. They had been intimidated and threatened by the Russians.

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