Seven Ukrainian children and teenagers have been successfully repatriated from territories temporarily occupied by Russia, facilitated by the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelensky and the organization Save Ukraine. The news was shared on social media by the project Bring Kids Back UA.
The organization reported that these children had endured significant pressure and attempts to impose a foreign identity upon them. “Today, these children and teenagers are finally safe,” the statement read.
Among those rescued is 19-year-old Viktor, who had lived for several years in a frontline area under constant shelling and without communication. According to the report, “The final straw was an enemy shell that fell in a neighboring yard, shattering the windows in his room. Today, Viktor can finally sleep in peace and plans to continue his education at a Ukrainian institution.”
Another individual, 18-year-old Dmytro, faced attempts by Russian authorities to conscript him into the armed forces, despite serious health issues.
Six-year-old Nika was forced to march in her kindergarten under the supervision of armed guards. Her mother had hoped to save her daughter from propaganda and enroll her in a Ukrainian school.
Brothers Marko and Mykhailo, also 18, lived under the constant threat of forced mobilization into the Russian army, with several of their peers taken during exams. The report noted, “To avoid this fate, the boys had to hide and secretly study online at a Ukrainian educational institution. Today, they are on territory controlled by Ukraine and dream of working in emergency services to help others.”
The charity organization added that these children, along with two others rescued the previous week, have been given a chance for a new life. They are currently in recovery centers, where they receive psychological support, assistance with documentation, housing, and care—everything necessary for a gradual return to a peaceful life.
However, Bring Kids Back UA emphasized that thousands of Ukrainian children still remain in temporarily occupied territories. The occupying authorities are reportedly intensifying pressure, attempting to forcibly mobilize teenagers and complicating routes for their return.
Context on Child Abduction by Russia
The President’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Daria Gerasimchuk, previously reported that as of late March 2023, Ukrainian authorities were aware of over 19,500 children being taken from occupied territories to Russia, although precise numbers are difficult to ascertain due to the ongoing occupation.
On April 5, 2023, 49 countries condemned Russia for organizing a Security Council meeting regarding the alleged legal grounds for the abduction of Ukrainian children from occupied territories. The United Kingdom blocked the broadcast of a speech by Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, at UN resources, calling for her to be held accountable in The Hague.
The Office of the Prosecutor General indicated that there is currently no transparent algorithm or mechanism in place to facilitate the return of deported Ukrainian children from Russia.
On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova, suspecting them of illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
As of September 23, 2025, President Zelensky reported that a total of 1,625 Ukrainian children had been successfully returned to Ukraine.
Seven Ukrainian children have been repatriated from Russian-occupied territories, highlighting ongoing efforts to recover abducted minors. Despite these successes, thousands remain at risk under occupation.