Two young people were successfully brought back from the temporarily occupied territory

As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the NGO Compass of Dreams helped bring two more young people back to Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Oleksii*, 21, had lived under Russian occupation since 2014, when he was just nine years old. Because of his age, he had not obtained a Ukrainian passport before the occupation began.

At the beginning of 2026, Oleksii tried to leave on his own. However, the occupation authorities detained him on fabricated charges over Ukrainian content on his phone. He spent two weeks behind bars.

After his release, Oleksii planned to earn enough money to try again. At the time, he did not know that organisations could help him leave free of charge. In the summer, a friend advised him to contact the NGO Compass of Dreams. The team arranged his safe return to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Oleksii now lives in Kyiv and is receiving the support he needs.

Bohdan*, 22, also came under occupation in 2014, when he was nine. He grew up without his father or siblings, while his mother did not plan to leave the temporarily occupied territory. Because of his age, Bohdan had also been unable to obtain a Ukrainian passport.

He contacted the NGO Compass of Dreams, and the team helped him make the journey home. Bohdan is now safe and receiving assistance with restoring his documents and finding housing. He plans to find work and, next year, enrol at an educational institution.

We thank the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Upbringing and Child Care and the Joint Center of the Security Service of Ukraine for their support and cooperation.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children remain under Russian control. We will continue working until every Ukrainian child is brought home.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.