On February 21, the Kherson Regional Military Administration reported that Ukraine had successfully repatriated two children from the Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast. This brings the total number of children freed from this region to 31 in the current year. The head of the administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, outlined the alarming circumstances under which one of the children, a 17-year-old girl, had been threatened by Russian soldiers who invaded her home, searched her belongings, and threatened her family with violence, aiming to forcibly take her to a boarding school.

The report highlights the broader context of conflict in Ukraine, particularly concerning the treatment of children in occupied territories. Oleksandr Prokudin emphasized the dangers these children face, citing threats to their safety as soldiers brandished weapons at their families. Fortunately, the recently returned children are now safe and are receiving support at the Hope and Recovery centers, which are part of the efforts to rehabilitate those affected by the ongoing conflict.

The repatriation is part of a larger initiative called Bring Kids Back UA, aimed at finding and returning Ukrainian children from occupied territories and Russia. This initiative is crucial in response to the distressing statistic from Ukraine’s 'Children of War' database, which reports that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been affected in various ways due to the war. The safe return of these children underscores ongoing humanitarian efforts amidst a tumultuous and challenging situation in Ukraine.