Ukraine rescues large group of children from Russia, occupied territories
Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative rescued a group of children from Russia and occupied territories, including 11 from Kherson Oblast, who faced forced Russification and FSB harassment, Save Ukraine and Bring Kids Back UA reported.
While the total number of children returned remains undisclosed, Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin confirmed 11 children—eight girls and three boys—were saved from occupied Kherson Oblast.
Among them, 9-year-old Alina (name changed for safety) was forced to sing Russia’s anthem and draw its flag in school, and 10-year-old Kostya was coerced into performing songs glorifying Russian military victories.
Maksym’s family endured three FSB raids for refusing Russian passports, with his mother hiding a phone containing “compromising” pro-Ukrainian content to avoid persecution.
A girl who attended Russian “reeducation camps” was forced to run with rifles, set tripwires, and dig trenches, and faced threats for liking a Ukrainian flag photo online.
Seventeen-year-old Yevhen, whose brother recently returned from captivity, lived in fear of FSB night raids targeting his father.
"But despite the danger, Yevhen stubbornly refused to attend a Russian school, hid at home and continued to study at a Ukrainian school online," the organization said.
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