Seven more Ukrainian teenagers returned from temporarily occupied territories
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.
The Ombudsman thanked First Lady of the United States Melania Trump for her humanitarian support of Ukraine’s initiatives aimed at returning children.
Lubinets shared stories of the children who were brought back to Ukraine.
A 13-year-old boy has endured far more than is typical for his age. He lost his father and later his mother, remaining alone in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region. With no relatives nearby, he was placed in the Novokiivskyi Social and Rehabilitation Center for Minors. He is now safe and will be reunited with his sister.
Two brothers, aged 13 and 16, after the death of their parents, remained under the temporary guardianship of their cousin to avoid separation and placement in a specialized institution. Despite the boys clearly expressing their desire to reunite with their sister on territory controlled by Ukraine, representatives of child services in the occupied territory and police, without the presence of a legal guardian, exerted psychological pressure on them and intimidated them in an attempt to change their decision. The brothers are now under the care of their sister and are finally safe and protected.
A 14-year-old boy was reunited with his mother – they had not seen each other for more than four years. They are now together after a long separation.
According to Lubinets, since the start of the full-scale invasion, 2,070 children have already been returned home, but thousands are still waiting. Ukraine will continue its efforts until all are brought back.
The Ombudsman’s Office directly accompanies each stage of the children’s return – from contacting relatives to the personal meeting at the border.
As reported by Ukrinform, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska held meetings with U.S. State Department officials, with the main topic being a new comprehensive $25 million program that will help return Ukrainian children.
