Ukraine rescues 6 children from Russian-occupied territories

Daria Zarivna, Chief Operating Officer of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative and Communications Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office, reported the information.

Among the returned children is 16-year-old Andrii, who was orphaned after Russian soldiers repeatedly tortured his father in an attempt to force him to cooperate. Eventually, his father died from the beatings. After the funeral, the occupying administration informed Andrii that he would be placed under Russian guardianship.

Also among the rescued were two sisters, 9-year-old Olia and 13-year-old Maryna, who, while living under occupation, were subjected to school lessons on “what to do in case of an attack by Ukraine.”

The invaders taught the children to hate their homeland, prepared them for war, and forced them to wear St. George ribbons and sing the Russian national anthem. The occupation authorities also threatened to take the girls away from their grandmother and place them with a Russian family.

Another girl, Anastasiia, was also rescued. She had been living in constant fear due to harassment by Russian soldiers. The Russians raided her home, threatened her with weapons, and attempted to assault her. Not even a fake wedding ring deterred them. She is now reunited with her brother and sister, who had been rescued earlier.

• Recently, Ukraine also succeeded in returning a 4-year-old girl from temporarily occupied territory. She had been living under occupation with her grandmother since the first days of the war.