23 children and teenagers were rescued from russian occupation by the Save Ukraine team last week. This was made possible thanks to the support of our partners within the framework of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. Each of them endured pressure, intimidation, and attempts at ideological re-education. Today, that chapter is finally behind them. 

Among those rescued: 

🔹 12-year-old Ruslana survived the horrors of the blockade, sheltering from relentless shelling in the basement of a church. She witnessed the tragic deaths of her neighbors, an experience that left scars on her health. To protect herself from russian propaganda, she secretly continued studying at a Ukrainian school. 

🔹 19-year-old Oleksii was pressured to sign a contract with the russian army. He endured interrogation and torture with electric shocks. Constant shelling and the fear of being forcibly conscripted took a severe toll on his health, causing memory loss and hearing impairment. 

🔹 18-year-old Tymur miraculously survived after an armed russian soldier broke into his home and shot at him several times. Beyond the direct threat to his life, the occupation regime effectively deprived him of his right to education, and the final push to flee came when he was threatened with forced conscription. 

For these three young people, along with 20 other children, life under occupation is now over. Today, they are receiving rehabilitation at our Hope and Healing Centers, where they have access to psychological support, assistance with restoring their documents, and a safe place to live as they begin rebuilding their lives. 

Yet thousands of Ukrainian children remain trapped under occupation, where they are being forced to erase their identity and are openly prepared for war. But we will not stop until every child is home. 

🙏🏻 We are deeply grateful to our partners Wladimir Klitschko, Tatjana Kiel, #WeAreAllUkrainians, The Humanity Funds and the Joint Center for the Coordination of Search and Release Efforts. Together, we are bringing Ukrainian children home. 

Thanks to Save Ukraine, more than 1,400 children have already been brought back home.