Ukraine releases five more children from Russian occupation, including servicewoman’s daughter

As the official said, among the returnees is the 15-year-old daughter of a Ukrainian servicewoman who was recently released from captivity.

"While the mother was in captivity, her family was forced to hide her intentions to leave so as not to harm her," Zarivna wrote.

Also, according to her, an 8-year-old boy returned from the occupation, who, despite the occupiers' ban, had been secretly studying at a Ukrainian online school all this time.

The official added that a 17-year-old boy was also brought back. He strongly supports Ukraine and personally reached out for help to escape the occupation so he could continue building his future in Ukraine. He celebrated reaching adulthood at home.

"Each return is a complex operation that requires the coordination of many efforts. Special thanks to the team of the Ombudsman's Office for organizing the rescue mission and the safe return of our children from the occupation," the message said.

It should be noted that 21-year-old Tetiana was rescued from the temporarily occupied territory within the framework of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative of the President of Ukraine.

For reference:

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression, the military of the enemy army has been deporting Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and territories under their control. Ukraine has created a map of the camps to which children are being sent.

As Ombudsman Lubinets reported, the deportation of over 19.5 thousand Ukrainian children has been officially confirmed.

Also, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has returned 1,032 children from the occupied territories and the Russian Federation.

The return of the children became possible thanks to the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bring Kids Back UA, and the work of the charitable organization Save Ukraine.

It is worth adding that the work of the International Expert Group Bring Kids Back UA plays an important role in determining the priorities and areas of activity of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, formed in early December 2023, the founding meeting of which was held in Kyiv.