16 children were returned from occupied Kherson region: a 17-year-old was forced to accept a Russian passport and was being prepared for conscription
The operation was carried out by Save Ukraine; five of the rescued are deprived of parental care, and all are currently in rehabilitation
On Wednesday, 12 August, the Save Ukraine team returned 16 children from the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region to territory controlled by Ukraine.
The success of this mission was reported by the head of the Kherson Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, noting that five of the rescued children have the status of children deprived of parental care, and adding other details in his statement.
Among those returned were eight girls and eight boys aged between 11 and 17 years, who reported psychological pressure and persecution in the occupied territory.
One of the teenagers, a 17-year-old boy, was subjected to humiliation because of his nationality; at school he was forced to march and to write letters in support of Russian troops.
Another 17-year-old was forced by occupying authorities to obtain a Russian passport and they tried to register him for military service.
A 15-year-old boy was left homeless after a Russian attack, and later armed security forces repeatedly came to his home to carry out searches; among the most traumatic events he experienced was witnessing the shooting of a person in front of him.
After their return, the children are undergoing rehabilitation at the “Hope and Recovery” centers, where they receive psychological assistance, support in restoring documents, and temporary housing that provides safety and calm.
Along with the minors, three adults who had previously held the status of children deprived of parental care also returned home.
The operation was organized with the assistance of the Save Ukraine charity as part of the presidential initiative Bring Kids Back UA.
“Since the beginning of 2026, 151 children have already been returned from the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region. Also returned were 9 persons from among orphans and children deprived of parental care,” wrote Oleksandr Prokudin.
