Today, seven more Ukrainian children were returned home as part of the President of Ukraine’s initiative, Bring Kids Back UA.
The children, ranging in age from 3 to 17, and their families spent a long time in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. These families faced persecution, with adults being subjected to repeated interrogations and children forced to attend “patriotic education lessons” and other public events aimed at spreading Russian propaganda narratives among the youth.
If Ukrainians refused to accept Russian passports, they were denied employment and access to medical services. The occupation authorities also threatened to strip Ukrainian parents of their parental rights if their children did not attend Russian schools.
Seventeen-year-old Danylo from Luhansk concealed the fact that he continued his online education in a Ukrainian school to ensure his family's safety. Despite the risks, he successfully received his secondary education certificate. He dreams of enrolling in the Cherkasy Institute of Fire Safety, named after the Heroes of Chornobyl of the National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine.
We are grateful to our partners, colleagues from the Office of the President, and the team of the Ukrainian Ombudsman for their coordinated efforts towards our common goal — to bring all our children home!