Ukraine returned another 14 children from the occupation

Ukraine returned 14 children with their families from the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.

One of the families tried several times to leave the occupied territories on their own, but they were sent back with threats and no explanation. Another family was hiding from the Russians because of its pro-Ukrainian position.

During communication with the employees of the Ombudsmanʼs Office, people said that they were afraid to go outside and could not find a job without a Russian passport. The Russians threatened to confiscate their property and deprive them of their parental rights, and the children had no choice in schools. Found Ukrainian books were burned, and valuable property was confiscated. Homes of Ukrainians were constantly searched.

Many of the returned children need placement in school, psychological and humanitarian assistance, and social integration.

If your child has been deported to the Russian Federation or is in the occupied territories, in addition to the police, you should notify the Office of the Ombudsman. Hotline 0 800 50 17 20 — within Ukraine, 044 299 74 08 — for calls from abroad, e-mail address — hotline@ombudsman.gov.ua

• The deportation of Ukrainian children is one of Russiaʼs war crimes, for which the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin and the childrenʼs ombudsman of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova. At least 19 546 Ukrainian children are currently known to have been forcibly deported to Russia, less than 400 of them have been returned. Ukraine also has evidence that Belarus is involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children.