18 September 2026

Five children have been returned from the occupied Kherson region

(ILLUSTRATION: Intent/AI)

Five more children have been returned from the occupied part of the Kherson region to territory controlled by Ukraine. The minors, aged 3 to 15, are undergoing reintegration and receiving the necessary assistance.

This was reported by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional State Administration. 

The Save Ukraine team evacuated two boys and three girls from the occupied territory. In total, the organization returned 33 children and adolescents to territory controlled by Ukraine last week. Each of them had endured pressure, intimidation, and attempts at re-education. 

As Intent reported, on September 12, another 10 children aged two to seventeen were successfully returned from the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region to territory controlled by Ukraine. 

Among those rescued was a six-year-old boy who grew up amid constant shelling and attacks by Russian drones. As a result of his ordeal, he suffered psychological trauma and was afraid to go outside or interact with others. 

A 17-year-old girl who was rescued survived a direct hit by a Russian drone on her own room. She was also forced to attend a school run by the occupying forces under threat of violence. 

A 16-year-old boy lived virtually in isolation for four years. His family hid him at home so that the occupiers would not force him to study under the Russian curriculum or draft him into the military. However, one day the occupiers broke into their home, searched the house, and threatened the boy and his family.

Юлія Калабайда

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