Ukraine brings back 15 people from Russian occupation, including 96-year-old woman

Another 15 Ukrainians have been brought back from territories temporarily occupied by Russia, including a 96-year-old woman from Kherson Oblast, the oldest of those rescued.

Source: Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets on Facebook

Details: A 74-year-old man managed to leave Kakhovka. He had lived under occupation for years because he feared that leaving could harm his son, who was being held captive by Russia. When his son was released in 2025, the father also decided to leave for territory controlled by Ukraine.

However, other problems had emerged by then: his health had deteriorated over the years. He had suffered a severe stroke, which left him partially paralysed, and developed inflammation of the submandibular gland.

He is now being treated by doctors and experts are helping him reinstate his documents, as Ukrainians returning from the occupation often have expired or lost IDs. He will meet his relatives for the first time in years.

A 96-year-old woman left the occupied village of Zaliznyi Port in Kherson Oblast together with her daughter and son-in-law. The family had been living amid attacks, power outages and food shortages.

The elderly woman required constant assistance, while her son-in-law was using an Ilizarov apparatus on his lower limb. Because of this, they could not leave the occupied territory on their own.

The family is now safe, and the grandmother will have the opportunity to see her grandson.

"Everyone who returns has their own reason for waiting for this day. Some will finally be able to embrace their loved ones after years of occupation. Some will be able to see doctors. And some simply want to be safe. For everyone, it means one thing: no longer living in fear," Lubinets added.

Background: A group of 32 Ukrainian children and teenagers was previously brought back from the occupation. Among them was a six-year-old boy who suffered severe psychological trauma after witnessing a drone strike near a children's playground.

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