Ukrainian child protection initiative Bring Kids Back UA and the Save Ukraine humanitarian team say 19 children and teenagers were evacuated last week from Russian-occupied territories and deportation risks.
The announcement said the operation was carried out with international partner support and as part of efforts coordinated under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
According to Save Ukraine, the children had been exposed to pressure, intimidation, and attempts to impose Russian identity policies while living under occupation.
Russia's systematic campaign against Ukrainian children
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of systematically transferring Ukrainian children from occupied territories to Russia or Russia-controlled areas, where they are placed in institutions, adopted into Russian families, or subjected to so-called “re-education” programmes.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants related to the deportation of Ukrainian children, calling it a war crime.
School punishment, public harassment, camp coercion
Among those evacuated was an 11-year-old girl, identified as Emilia, who was reportedly forced at school to take part in military-themed events and faced bullying and pressure from teachers after refusing. The group said sustained stress led to serious health problems.
Another case involved a 19-year-old, Sofia, who was allegedly harassed by a Russian soldier after speaking Ukrainian in public and later faced punishment at college for pro-Ukrainian views.
A 17-year-old boy, Matvii, was reportedly taken to a so-called “camp” under false pretences, where he was pressured to sing the Russian anthem and threatened with isolation for refusing. Save Ukraine said he later had to hide from patrols searching for teenagers for military conscription-related notices.
Now in safety – but thousands remain
All 19 children are now in safety centres run by Save Ukraine, where they are receiving psychological support, documentation assistance, housing, and care.
The organisations said an additional 16 children rescued in the same period are also undergoing rehabilitation in “Hope and Recovery” centres.
They estimate that large numbers of Ukrainian children remain in occupied territories, where evacuation routes remain difficult and restrictions on movement and communication persist.
