UKRAINE, Dec. 26 — On Dec. 25, Ukraine returned a woman with her two sons from Russian-occupied territories, reported Bring kids back UA, Ukraine’s presidential initiative. 

In August 2025, as part of the presidential initiative, Ukraine managed to return 101 children who had been deported, forcibly relocated, or held in the temporarily occupied territory by Russia. A total of 1,600 children have been returned so far.

The initiative said that the mother and her sons stayed on occupied territory under constant pressure from Russian law enforcement. The Russian authorities forbade the family to change their permanent address and systematically conducted searches in their home because the father of the family is serving in the Ukrainian army now. Russians also threatened the mother to conscript her sons to fight against Ukraine. 

Currently, the mother and her sons are safe. According to Bring Kids Back UA, they are receiving psychological support as well as assistance with housing, and documentation. 

“Today, the mother and sons finally met with their husband and father — a Ukrainian soldier who survived captivity,” wrote Bring kids back UA. 

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