{
  "id": 8486223,
  "title": "Ukraine returns 15 civilians from Russian-occupied territories, ombudsman says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/ukraine-returns-15-civilians-from-russian-occupied-territories",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T15:22:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-returns-15-civilians-from-russian-occupied-territories-ombudsman-says/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 19, Ukraine announced the return of 15 civilians from Russian-occupied territories, according to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. However, the process of leaving these occupied areas is not straightforward. For many, it involves years of waiting, while others must decide to leave their homes where they have spent their entire lives. Lubinets noted the additional challenges faced by those who are sick, elderly, or unable to move independently. Some of the returned civilians lacked proper documentation, as their papers had expired or been lost. The oldest returnee was a 96-year-old woman from the occupied village of Zaliznyi Port in Kherson Oblast, accompanied by her daughter and son-in-law. The youngest returnee was 49 years old. Another notable case involved a 74-year-old man from Kakhovka in Kherson Oblast, who had remained in the occupied city due to fear that leaving might endanger his son, who was held captive by Russian forces. This son was eventually released in 2025. The situation of thousands of Ukrainians who remain in captivity, as well as those living under occupation, remains unclear. Ukrainian authorities estimate that up to 16,000 Ukrainians are missing, while Russia reportedly holds thousands of Ukrainian civilians in detention.",
  "summary": "\"Leaving occupied territory is not easy. For some, it means years of waiting; for others, it means deciding to leave behind a home where they have spent their entire lives,\" Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}