Russia 'increasingly obstructing' return of Ukrainian children from occupied territories
According to the Head of Policy of Bring Kids Back UA, Oleksandra Dvoretska, the number of children Ukraine is managing to bring back from Russian-occupied territories has recently increased compared with previous periods.
Russia is making it more difficult for Ukrainian children to return from areas under its occupation, a charity assisting with their safe passage revealed to the Kyiv Independent. Oleksandra Dvoretska, the organization's policy head, detailed the growing bureaucratic hurdles. Since the start of 2026, Russian authorities now require minors to possess biometric documents, whereas children under 14 previously only needed a passport to leave. Previously, birth certificates sufficed.
Dvoretska characterized Russia as a colonizer, seizing land and children. Despite escalating obstacles, Ukraine managed to repatriate 103 children and young adults from the Russian-occupied zones in August, compared to 50 in July. However, the return process remains challenging. Dvoretska attributed the increase to Ukraine's enhanced ability to support such efforts, as well as more youths attempting to flee the occupied territories, especially those vulnerable to forced military service.
Among those rescued were Viktor, a 21-year-old whose home endured frequent Russian raids accusing him of espionage, and Mykola, 21, who endured a coercive educational system that included mandatory meetings with Russian military personnel and drone operation training. Both managed to escape the Russian-occupied regions. Dvoretska highlighted Russia's tightening restrictions on higher education in the occupied territories, aiming to shorten the journey from school to military service.
As of September 2026, Ukraine's Justice Ministry confirmed 20,610 instances of Ukrainian children being deported or transferred to Russia, with Ukrainian human rights groups estimating several hundred thousand are under Russian control, including those deported or at risk of deportation. These numbers likely significantly underestimate the actual figure, with Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets suggesting up to 150,000, and Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Daria Herasymchuk proposing a range of 200,000–300,000.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the country's Commissioner for Children's Rights, over alleged state-sanctioned child abductions.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
