Ukraine retrieves nine children from Russian-occupied territories, including sisters held indoors for nearly three years

The head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, announced the news, saying the children were rescued from temporarily occupied territories and brought back to Ukraine under the president’s humanitarian program. According to Yermak, the children endured harrowing experiences.

"Among them is a girl who was barely saved due to the lack of proper medical care under occupation. A boy was also rescued after Russian soldiers locked him and his mother in a basement while torturing his father in the next room. At school, he was forced to praise the Russians," the statement reads.

The group also included sisters who had not left their home for nearly three years because of constant shelling and Russian tanks nearby. Another girl had no access to Ukrainian online education due to the occupiers blocking communication.

“I’m grateful to the Save Ukraine team and all partners who helped organize this rescue mission,” Yermak added.

• Daria Zarivna, head of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, noted that Russia has stopped providing any information on deported Ukrainian children, leaving their exact numbers unknown.