Finally home: Ukraine brings back 96 children from Russia and occupied territories

OLENA BARSUKOVA

Ukraine has succeeded in bringing back 96 Ukrainian children from Russia and the temporarily occupied territories, the Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine has reported on Telegram.

"96 little Ukrainians are back in their homeland. Their families have been reunited thanks to the efforts of the government, volunteers and everyone concerned," the Ministry stated.

The Ministry for Reintegration expressed gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the children back to Ukraine, including governmental organisations, diplomatic institutions, volunteers, and the international charity organisation SOS Children’s Villages.

"We are fighting for every little Ukrainian! Because children are our country, our future.

And we will definitely take care of them, so that every single one of them is safe and comfortable," added Iryna Vereshchuk, Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration.

Earlier, 37 children who had been deported from Kharkiv Oblast by the Russians were brought back to Ukraine. 

Nevertheless, as of 13 October, 8,140 Ukrainian children have been deported by the Russian occupiers. 

The occupiers kidnapped many children from Mariupol. They have started to allocate the children to so-called foster families in Russia and to "reeducate" them. 

Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Children’s Ombudsman, claimed that 30 children from Mariupol who used to sing the Ukrainian national anthem have now grown to "love Russia".

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