Eight Ukrainian children, aged 6 to 16, have been successfully brought back from the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk regions, and Crimea. This was made possible under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative led by the President of Ukraine, with the Office of the Ombudsman and support from Qatar for seven children, while one returned via a humanitarian corridor.Their stories reveal the horrors of life under occupation — separation from loved ones, lack of access to quality healthcare, the threat of deportation, and the imposition of propaganda. Here are a few of their journeys
Taras, a boy on the autism spectrum, lived with his grandmother in the Kherson region. When she suffered a stroke and could no longer care for him, Taras was sent to a shelter, where he faced the threat of deportation to Russia. Thanks to the efforts of the Ombudsman’s Office and international support, Taras was reunited with his mother, who can now provide him with the care and stability he needs.
Maria, a young girl with severe neurological conditions, lived in Crimea with her grandmother, where she lacked access to adequate medical care, causing her condition to worsen. Her mother was abroad and unable to bring her home. Maria’s return seemed impossible, but through international coordination, she was brought back to Ukraine, where she is now receiving the treatment she desperately needs.
After the death of his mother, 12-year-old Denys was placed in a Russian orphanage, where he was subjected to propaganda and was being prepared for adoption by a Russian family. Despite these hardships, he managed to stay in contact with his father in Kharkiv. With the help of Qatar, Denys was returned to Ukraine and reunited with his father.
Now these children now have the chance to be with their families and start new lives. But the mission continues — to bring every child back to Ukraine, without conditions or exceptions.