Six more children have been successfully returned to Ukraine from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) as part of the presidential initiative Bring Kids Back UA. This was reported by Daria Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President on Communication Issues.
“The stories of these children vividly illustrate how russia is trying by all means to erase the Ukrainian nation—from imposing propaganda and hatred toward Ukraine to threatening families with the removal of children, and forcibly conscripting our young men into the russian army”, - Zarivna noted.
“For instance, 16-year-old Vitaliy skipped school to avoid being forcibly taken to the city and registered for military service, as happened to his classmates. The family of 14-year-old Artem was essentially held hostage under occupation—they were not issued documents required to leave the TOT. When the occupiers kidnapped his mother, it became clear they needed to escape by any means. Fortunately, Artem was evacuated, though his father remains in occupation”, - Zarivna explained.
It is noted that the return of these children was made possible through the coordinated efforts of Save Ukraine and its partner organizations.