Ukraine returns another child from occupied Mariupol

Another child was taken to the territory controlled by Ukraine from Russia-controlled Mariupol. The boy is now in Kyiv, says Ukraine's Minister of Reintegration Iryna Vereshchuk.

Vladyslav stopped feeling at home under occupation in February last year. Since then, he has not given up hope of returning to the Ukraine-controlled territory. The boy was growing up without parents.

His journey has been long and difficult, but in the end, he is here with us in Kyiv. I am sincerely grateful to the volunteers and everyone who made Vladyslav safe today, the Minister added.

The press release adds that his friend's story of escape inspired Ukrainian volunteers to help. Currently, both are in Kyiv.

The Ministry of Reintegration thanked Daria Kasyanova, Programme Director of the Ukrainian Child Rights Network, who helped to return Vladyslav.

The Hague Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova for the deportation of Ukrainian children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says 371 Ukrainian children have been returned to Ukraine after being deported by Russia during the war. 

As the Prosecutor General's Office reports, Russian forces have already abducted nearly 20,000 children during the full-scale war. Some data says the number of forcibly taken kids exceeds 700,000.