Ukrainian authorities have rescued 23 children from Russian-occupied territories, according to officials in Kyiv. The children, some with special educational needs, were among thousands allegedly deported since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
One case involves 13 children taken from Kupyansk Special School in north-eastern Ukraine last September by armed Russian soldiers. The children were eventually allowed to call home from deeper inside occupied territory, but their relatives had to travel thousands of miles into Russia to retrieve them. Only eight have been returned so far.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin in March, accusing him of the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. Russia insists its actions are humanitarian, but Ukraine has documented over 19,000 children taken from occupied areas.
Investigations found that Russian officials made minimal effort to locate relatives, and children were subjected to a 'patriotic' Russian education, including wearing military uniforms with the Z symbol of Russia's war. One school director dismissed concerns, saying 'no-one is forcing them.'
Families like that of 15-year-old Sasha Kraynyuk, who was taken from Kupyansk, have been deeply affected. Sasha now lives as a refugee in Germany with his mother, but remains withdrawn and stressed months after their reunion.
