Ukraine returns five children and teenagers from occupation to government-controlled territory

16.07.2026, 08:42 rubryka.com

Among them are three young men who recently turned 18. After Russian forces occupied their hometowns in 2022, they had to grow up quickly and adapt to life under constant fear and pressure. Any expression of Ukrainian identity could become grounds for persecution.

After reaching adulthood, the young men decided not to delay leaving because of the threat of forced conscription into the Russian army and the risk of being forced to fight against their own country.

Despite years of life under occupation, they did not give up on their plans for the future. The young men are now in government-controlled Ukrainian territory, where they plan to enter universities, find jobs, and begin a new stage of life.

Nineteen-year-old Alina went through a similar path. She spent almost her entire childhood under occupation. The girl studied online at a Ukrainian school to receive a Ukrainian education, while also attending a Russian school to avoid pressure from the occupation administration.

Ukraine also managed to return 20-year-old Albina, who had lived in temporarily occupied Crimea since the age of eight. The decision to leave the occupied territory was difficult for her, as she had neither relatives nor acquaintances in government-controlled Ukrainian territory. At the same time, staying under occupation was becoming increasingly dangerous, and there were almost no opportunities left to build her own future.

Specialists from the Ukrainian Child Rights Network and volunteers from the "Humanity" initiative helped young people assess the risks, plan a safe route, and support them at every stage of their return to Ukraine.

They now face a process of adaptation and reintegration. They will receive the support and assistance needed to restore a stable, safe life.

The Ukrainian Child Rights Network stresses that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children and young people still remain under Russian control. Russia systematically creates conditions that limit freedom of choice, increase pressure, and make it increasingly difficult to leave.

Background

It should be noted that the Bring Kids Back UA initiative has helped facilitate 2,126 child returns.

Bring Kids Back UA is an initiative of the President of Ukraine that brings together state institutions, civil society, and international partners to search for, return, and reintegrate Ukrainian children deported and forcibly displaced by Russia.

As Rubryka reported, the state provides comprehensive support to children who return to government-controlled Ukrainian territory after deportation, forced displacement, or from temporarily occupied territories. The Government has introduced a one-time payment for a child who returns to government-controlled territory after deportation, forced displacement, or from temporarily occupied territories.

It is worth adding that the civil union Ukrainian Child Rights Network has launched a chatbot to collect requests for the return of children and young people from occupation and deportation. The tool allows users to submit a request to return a child or young person under 23, report a loss of contact with a family, and receive support information. All applicants' data remains confidential.