Forced to assemble machine guns and taught to shoot: 27 children rescued from occupation

Last week, another 27 Ukrainian children and adolescents were returned from the temporarily occupied territories. The operation was carried out by the Save Ukraine team as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative of the President of Ukraine.

This was reported by Save Ukraine.

All children experienced pressure from the occupying authorities, propaganda, and attempts to impose a Russian identity on them.

Among those rescued is 17-year-old Dmytro. According to the organization, at his school, Russian soldiers dressed up in the uniform of Ukrainian defenders and intimidated children with stories about the alleged executions of civilians. The boy himself was registered with the military by the occupiers, despite serious heart problems.

They also managed to evacuate 17-year-old Angelina, who had suffered several concussions due to constant shelling. The girl was forced to study at a Russian school, because otherwise the occupation administration threatened to send her to a boarding school. There, children were taught to assemble machine guns and were convinced that “Russia is here forever.”

Among those rescued was 14-year-old Andriy. His native village was turned into a military base by the Russian military. At school, children were told that it was Ukraine and NATO that allegedly attacked Russia, and at special training grounds they were taught to dig trenches, shoot, and throw grenades.

Currently, all rescued children are staying in the Hope and Recovery centers, where they receive psychological assistance, support with paperwork, and temporary housing.

Save Ukraine emphasizes that despite the successful return of 27 more children, thousands of Ukrainian boys and girls still remain in the occupied territories.

In total, thanks to the work of the Save Ukraine organization, more than 1,300 Ukrainian children have already been returned home.