Ukraine returns four girls from occupied Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions
Under Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, Ukraine returned four young women and teenage girls from temporarily occupied territories: a 19-year-old and her older sister, as well as two teenage girls from the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
According to Rubryka, the Bring Kids Back UA initiative press service reported that the two sisters spent three years under Russian occupation. Deciding to relocate proved difficult, as both took considerable time before resolving to leave the occupied territory. The 19-year-old girl feared the uncertainty and hazards associated with the journey.
To help the sisters return, organizers planned a safe route for their transit. Both now reside in Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Authorities also brought two additional teenage girls back from the temporarily occupied parts of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. During an attempt to cross through a humanitarian corridor, a girl faced obstacles when border officers turned her back because she lacked a Ukrainian passport.
Following the setback, the girl returned to Minsk with her grandmother, where she obtained an official identity certificate to re-enter Ukraine. The documentation allowed her to resume her journey home.
Both teenage girls now reside safely in Ukrainian-controlled territory, with one currently renewing her official identity documents.
Background
As Rubryka previously reported, the state provides comprehensive support to children returning to Ukrainian-controlled territory following deportation, forced displacement, or residence in temporarily occupied areas. The government established a one-time financial allowance for children who return from forced displacement or the occupied territories.
Additionally, the Ukrainian Child Rights Network public union launched a dedicated chatbot to collect requests regarding the return of children and youth under 23 years old from occupation and deportation. The tool enables users to submit requests for returning a young person, report lost contact with family members, and receive support details, while keeping all applicant data strictly confidential.
Official figures from the Bring Kids Back UA initiative confirm that as of September 25:
- Authorities verified 20,651 cases of deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children.
- Approximately 1.6 million children in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories endure state-sponsored indoctrination and militarization policies, including at least 582,600 school-aged children.
Moreover, the US previously backed a 12 million US dollar program aimed at reintegrating Ukrainian children returned from deportation and occupied territories. Furthermore, the US allocates 25 million US dollars toward programs supporting the return and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children forcibly removed by Russia.
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