Three children were successfully brought back from the temporarily occupied territory

As part of the Ukrainian President’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the Ukrainian Child Rights Network and Humanity helped return three minor brothers — Stepan*, Artem*, and Kyrylo* — together with their mother and grandmother from temporarily occupied territory.

In Kyiv, their older brother and his family were waiting for them. After a long separation, the family was finally reunited.

Before the full-scale invasion, the boys studied at a Ukrainian school. After their hometown was occupied, they were forced to continue their education under the Russian curriculum.

Their mother and grandmother tried to protect the children from Russian influence as much as possible, including by refusing to send them to Russian-run camps. Concerned about the boys’ future and determined to give them the opportunity to receive a Ukrainian education, their mother reached out for help.

Specialists from the Ukrainian Child Rights Network, together with Humanity, helped plan a safe route, coordinated every stage of the departure, and supported the family throughout their return.

Stepan, Artem, and Kyrylo have always led active lives, playing sports and attending various clubs and activities. Today, they are already on territory controlled by Ukraine, where they can continue their education, return to the activities they love, and build their future alongside their family.

Ahead of the family is a process of adaptation and reintegration, during which they will receive the necessary support and assistance.

We continue working so that Ukrainian children who remain under Russian control can receive the help they need and return home safely.

*The names have been changed for security reasons.

The return was made possible with the support of the German Federal Government through the project “JOFU: Joining Forces for Child Protection in Ukraine,” implemented by the Ukrainian Child Rights Network together with the Joining Forces consortium and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.