6 more kids returned to Ukraine- country’s ombudsman

Source: Dmytro Lubinets/Telegram

On Wednesday,  five families with six children aged 3 to 17 returned to Ukraine-controlled territory The families lived in occupied areas of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea.

According to Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, they experienced “psychological pressure, inadequate medical care, and a lack of essential medicines” in the Russian-occupied territories.  All of them were  were forced to obtain a Russian citizenship, while children were subjected to intense brainwashing.

“Children were required to attend Russian schools, where the curriculum was infused with ‘Russian world’ propaganda. Without parental or child consent, they were enrolled in military organizations. Families who refused to comply were threatened with having their children taken away, and parents were warned they could be imprisoned on fabricated charges,” said Lubinets.

Earlier this month, Lubinets revealed that Russia has kidnapped at least 20,000 children from Ukraine, while  1.5 million more children who were caught up in the occupied areas may face exile.