Ukraine rescues 12 more children from Russian-occupied territories: Commissioner for Human Rights shares what they went through

Another 12 Ukrainian children were returned to the government-controlled territory of Ukraine. Together with their families, the little Ukrainians lived in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

The children and adults who were rescued from the occupation spoke about the arbitrariness of the invaders, the Russian propaganda machine in the TOT and even torture. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, provided details.

"We managed to return 12 Ukrainian children to their homeland! The children and their families lived in the TOT - in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Fortunately, they are now on the territory controlled by Ukraine. Each family experienced the chaos caused by the occupation "authorities" in their own way," the Commissioner noted.

According to him, almost every family that returned to the government-controlled territory was forced to obtain Russian passports. To ensure "passportization," the occupiers deprived Ukrainians who renounce the citizenship of the aggressor state of any rights. They cannot enjoy any social guarantees or medical care.

"Doctors do not even accept children with birth defects who need careful attention. However, parents are offered to send their children for 'rehabilitation', which is often deportation or forced displacement. Some children had to attend 'Russian schools' where they actively brainwashed about the 'Russian world'," Lubinets emphasized.

He also told the stories of people who managed to leave the occupation. They claim that in the occupied territories of Ukraine, the invaders also resort to physical abuse of Ukrainians.

"According to the returnees, the Russians detain, beat, torture with electricity, exert psychological pressure on adults, and interrogate children without their parents' presence and also use torture methods in the TOT. They also regularly conduct unreasonable searches in the homes of locals," Lubinets said.

He said that he was personally impressed by the story of one of the boys who left the occupied territory. The child wanted to live in the free territory of Ukraine because "he wants to become a Ukrainian savior and get an education in a dream higher education institution."

"It was the feeling of disempowerment, limitation, and the realization of what the future holds for children that prompted the families to leave for the government-controlled territory. The families have already visited our Child Protection Center. They were interviewed by a competent multifunctional team that recorded the crimes they witnessed or were victims of," the Commissioner said.

He assured that the state is waiting for the return of every Ukrainian and will provide basic humanitarian, medical, psychological, social and other necessary assistance.

At the same time, Lubinets urged that in case of a missing child, one should report not only by calling 102, but also to the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner.

This can be done by calling the hotline numbers:

0 800 50 17 20 - within Ukraine,

044 299 74 08 - for calls from abroad.

You can also send a message to hotline@ombudsman.gov.ua.

Earlier, Lubinets spoke about the conditions of detention of captured marines in Russia. He emphasized that Russia is extremely reluctant to return the defenders of Mariupol as they need them for public trials. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to rescue those who defended this city.

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