Fresh, Original Rewrite
Kids retrieved from Kherson Oblast, a temporarily held region, make three additional recoveries
Three more young Ukrainians, aged 12 to 16, have bravely navigated the treacherous territory of Kherson Oblast and found their way back to their homeland. This recent rescue mission brings the tally to 46 successful returns from the occupied region since the start of the year.
Among these brave kids is a remarkable boy who defied the odds when his hometown was seized. By the age of nine, he had already shown his unwavering support for Ukraine, bravely holding his ground against bullies at school, even with the support of his teachers. The FSB took notice, making intimidating visits to his family and threatening to take him away from his mother. But this nine-year-old held strong, never backing down, and refusing to participate in militarized events or sing the Russian national anthem.
Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, praises the boy's courage and explained that all three children are now receiving the medical and psychological support they need to recover and heal.
While the exact number of children returned from Kherson Oblast since the beginning of 2025 is not specified in this report, recent efforts have seen 1,269 children returned overall since the launch of initiatives like Bring Kids Back UA, with 449 children being returned in the past year and a remarkable 18 in March 2025. Since the seizure of territories, over 20,000 children have been forcibly transferred or deported, with only around 1,300 successfully returned. For more precise figures regarding Kherson Oblast, further research would be necessary.
Sources & Enrichment Insights
- Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration
- European Parliament resolution on the return of Ukrainian children forcibly removed and deported by Russia on 8 May
- Around 1,269 children have been returned overall since the launch of initiatives like Bring Kids Back UA, with 449 children returned in the past year and 18 in March 2025; over 20,000 children have been forcibly transferred or deported, with only around 1,300 successfully returned (Enrichment Data)
- Despite the challenging war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, Oleksandr Prokudin, the Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, has swiftly implemented programs like Bring Kids Back UA, which have been instrumental in the quick return of 449 children in the past year and 18 children in March 2025, adding to the total of 1,269 children.
- General news outlets have reported that, since the start of the war, over 20,000 children have been forcibly transferred or deported, but only around 1,300 have been successfully returned, signifying a need for more efforts to be made in child recovery.
- Amid the ongoing economic turbulence and political unrest, the health and well-being of children returning from occupied regions, like Oleksandr's hometown, have become a top priority, with immediate medical and psychological support provided for every returning child.
- In light of recent political developments, it's crucial for policymakers to address the issue of forcibly removed children, as highlighted in the European Parliament resolution on the return of Ukrainian children, passed on 8 May, to ensure that more children like Oleksandr can be quickly uswaletsavers in their homeland.
- In his efforts to rebuild the economy and health infrastructure in the Oblast, Oleksandr Prokudin's work is of utmost importance in terms of both the immediate needs of those impacted by the conflicts and the long-term well-being of children like Oleksandr, whose return shines a beacon of hope in these challenging times.
