Six Children Returned to Ukrainian-Controlled Territory from Occupied Kherson Region

On Saturday, April 4, six children from the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region were returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory, where they are now receiving necessary assistance, as reported by Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration.

According to Prokudin, among the returned children was a thirteen-year-old boy who had been left without parents and was living alone in the temporarily occupied territory. He has been placed in the Novokyivsk Social Rehabilitation Center for Minors, where he now feels safe alongside his sister.

Prokudin noted that two other brothers, aged 13 and 16, had remained under the care of their cousin after the death of their parents to avoid separation and placement in a specialized institution. The boys dreamed of reuniting with their sister in Ukrainian-controlled territory; however, child protection services and police in the temporarily occupied area exerted psychological pressure on them, attempting to change their decision, Prokudin emphasized. Now, the brothers will be under their sister's care and are safe.

Additionally, a 14-year-old boy was reunited with his mother after more than four years of separation. Prokudin highlighted that all the children are currently safe and receiving the necessary assistance.

It is worth noting that on April 2, it was reported that U.S. First Lady Melania Trump had facilitated the return of Ukrainian children for the fourth time, who had been taken out of Ukraine by Russian occupiers. This reflects the active efforts of the international community regarding the return of children who have become victims of war.

In June 2025, a team of researchers from Yale University (USA) established that Russia may be holding approximately 35,000 Ukrainian children, who are considered missing. Some of these children have been adopted by Russian families, while others have been transferred to military camps or placed in orphanages, raising serious concerns within the international community.

According to data from the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, as of April 4, a total of 2,070 children have been returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory. This indicates that efforts to return children who have become victims of war are ongoing, and it is crucial for such cases to receive appropriate attention from both the state and international organizations.