UKRAINE, Jan. 8 — Ukraine returned a large group of children from the Russian-occupied territories, reported Bring Kids Back Ua, Ukraine’s presidential initiative, on Jan. 7. 

Since 2022, Russia has kidnapped at least 19,546 children, and 1,700 are considered missing in action, said Yurii Vitrenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna. He added that Ukraine had returned only 1,227 children to Ukraine, and Russia continues to obstruct this process in every possible way. 

Among the returned children was a 17-year-old Matvii. Russian authorities forced him to undergo drill training and learn how to handle military equipment and weapons while studying in school in the Russian-occupied territories. 

At the age of 16, Matvii and his classmates were registered for military service in Russia. Bring Kids Back UA described this as a first step toward the future enlistment of Ukrainian children into Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukraine also returned a 3-year-old Alisa and a 5-year-old Solomia. In the village where the girls lived, the Russian administration organized a children’s event, held without parents present, where children were tasked with preparing handmade gifts for Russian soldiers.

A 17-year-old Danylo was also returned to Ukraine. He lived in the city where Russian soldiers had located heavy military equipment, and Russian military aircraft constantly flew over the residential building.

Danylo’s usual route home passed through Russian checkpoints, where he repeatedly faced pressure and threats from Russian military personnel. Refusal to fill out Russian documents or any “incorrect” behavior immediately attracted the attention of Russians to him.

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