Children liberated from Russian control in Ukraine
In a significant development, a group of Ukrainian children, who had continued their studies online amidst the occupation, have been rescued. This operation was made possible by the combined efforts of the Bring Kids Back UA and Save Ukraine organisations.
The rescue comes as a relief for these children who have been subjected to forced deportation, indoctrination, forced renaming, and militarization, as described by Bring Kids Back UA and Save Ukraine. Thousands of these children have been taken from their homes and sent either to Russian-controlled Ukrainian regions or directly into Russia, where many face "reeducation camps," placement with Russian foster families, or schools focused on propaganda rather than genuine education.
One such example is Ksenia Koldin, a Ukrainian teenager, who recounted how her weekly lessons involved Russian nationalist propaganda and pressure to accept Russian citizenship, which she resisted.
Bring Kids Back UA reports that around 19,546 children have been deported since the start of the 2022 invasion, with only about 1,399 having been returned to Ukraine. The organisation highlights accusations of Russia changing children’s names to block their access to Ukrainian relatives, intensifying the psychological harm and cultural erasure.
Save Ukraine and Bring Kids Back UA depict the situation as a deliberate, systematic campaign by Russia to erase Ukrainian identity among children through forced removal and indoctrination. Russian efforts include organizing cadet programs to militarize these children for Russian military service, clearly violating international law. This militarization and indoctrination are supported by Russian officials openly facilitating such programs.
Recent reports confirm ongoing rescues of Ukrainian children from occupied territories, many of whom have suffered war-related trauma, humiliation, and fear under Russian control. The rescued children often represent those who continued their education online or through other means, and their recovery is an ongoing priority for these organisations.
Four-year-old Milana and eight-year-old Sasha, who lived in occupied territories, were threatened with losing custody if they didn't attend Russian schools. Fortunately, they were brought to safety and are now staying in Ukrainian-controlled territory. The rescue group mentioned that Milana, who has a disability, needed medication that was extremely difficult to find in the occupied territories.
The mother of Milana and Sasha was forced to obtain Russian documents, while their grandmother was interrogated with a polygraph. All rescued children are now staying in Ukrainian-controlled territory and receiving psychological support, temporary housing, humanitarian and food assistance, help with documents, and opportunities for a fresh start.
The founder of Save Ukraine, Mykola Kuleba, stated that the rescued people are now safe and surrounded by warmth and care at their Hope and Healing centre. These children have endured war, loss, humiliation, and fear under Russian occupation and are now starting a new life in Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Minister, Putin, has urgently left Moscow for a bunker in Valdai, as reported by Ukrainian intelligence. The situation remains tense, with the Belarusian Defence Minister claiming that there are 112,000 Ukrainian troops deployed near the Belarusian border and threatening to destroy NATO aircraft.
The rescue and repatriation of these children are ongoing efforts by Bring Kids Back UA and Save Ukraine, with the aim of protecting the future of Ukrainian identity and providing a safe environment for these children to grow and thrive.
References:
[1] Bring Kids Back UA and Save Ukraine report on the experiences of Ukrainian children under Russian occupation. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.bringkidsbackua.org/reports/
[2] International Law and the militarization of Ukrainian children under Russian occupation. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.saveukraine.org/reports/international-law-and-the-militarization-of-ukrainian-children-under-russian-occupation/
[3] Rescued Ukrainian children: Stories of survival and resilience. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.bringkidsbackua.org/stories-of-survival-and-resilience/
[4] Ukrainian children rescued from Russian occupation: A new start in Ukrainian-controlled territory. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.saveukraine.org/news/ukrainian-children-rescued-from-russian-occupation-a-new-start-in-ukrainian-controlled-territory/
[5] The ongoing effort to rescue Ukrainian children from Russian occupation. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.bringkidsbackua.org/the-ongoing-effort-to-rescue-ukrainian-children-from-russian-occupation/
The rescue of Ukrainian children, exposed to forced deportation, indoctrination, and militarization under Russian occupation, is a critical development in the ongoing political news, shedding light on the repercussions of war-and-conflicts in Ukraine. The government is urged to address these issues, while organizations like Bring Kids Back UA and Save Ukraine continue their efforts to repatriate these children, safeguarding the future of Ukrainian identity and providing a secure, healthy environment for their growth and development.
