For some, the journey reunited families; for others, it opened a path back to Ukrainian education and a future they had protected in secret.
Another five Ukrainian citizens, including minors, have been brought back from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Their return was supported by the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the Helping to Leave team, the Coordination Headquarters, and the Compass of Dreams NGO.
This is reported by the Bring Kids Back UA initiative on Facebook.
With the assistance of Helping to Leave, Natalia, Katya, and Maria reached territory controlled by Ukraine. The names of those involved have been changed for security reasons.
Sisters Natalia and Katya left the occupied territories together with their mother. Their older brothers had left earlier, so the family was able to reunite after their return. The Helping to Leave team helped prepare a safe route and accompanied the family during their journey. The Coordination Headquarters assisted with obtaining documents for their return to Ukraine and crossing the border.
Maria left a part of the Luhansk region that Russia had occupied back in 2014. At first, the girl studied under the Ukrainian education program, but she was later forced to transfer to a Russian school. Helping to Leave prepared her departure route, while the Coordination Headquarters helped with the necessary documents.
After returning, Maria plans to complete 11th grade, work, and build her future in Ukraine.
Two more Ukrainians left with the support of the Compass of Dreams
As part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the Compass of Dreams NGO helped bring two more young people back from the occupied territories.
Eighteen-year-old Kyrylo had been living in the occupied territory since 2014. Before reaching adulthood, he enrolled remotely in a Ukrainian higher education institution. Representatives of the organization helped the young man obtain the necessary documents and arranged his departure.
A week after his 18th birthday, Kyrylo left the temporarily occupied territory and returned to Ukraine.
Seventeen-year-old Maria found herself under occupation after Russia seized her hometown in 2022. After Ukrainian schools were closed, the girl refused to study under the Russian curriculum and secretly continued her Ukrainian education online.
She obtained a Ukrainian certificate of complete secondary education and enrolled in a college under Special Quota 2. After several months of preparations, Maria and her grandmother left for territory controlled by Ukraine.
The girl is now in Chernivtsi. In September, she is due to begin her first year of study.
Thus, five Ukrainians were able to leave the temporarily occupied territories and return to a safer life in Ukraine.