Today, Ukraine is overjoyed: we have saved five children from the Novopetrivtsi boarding school of the Mykolaiv region. The children had survived for three months at the front line, hiding from bombs and rockets in the basement without food and water, and then experienced the horrors of deportation. In mid-July 2022, Russians abducted them at gunpoint and transferred them to the occupied territory.

The occupiers kept the children in the Kherson Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation. Every day, the military came to them and checked whether anyone had suddenly escaped, forbade them to communicate with their relatives, and threatened them. In October 2022, the occupiers took them to Crimea. And then to Anapa, Krasnodar Region. Later, the children were rescued and taken to a safe territory, Georgia.

Fortunately, we can say with relief that our rescue mission for these five kids from the Novopetrivtsi boarding school has been completed today. We are happy to meet them in Ukraine and hand them over to their legal guardians. Now, the children are in Ukraine, in the arms of their relatives and friends, and under the care of Save Ukraine.

We sincerely thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their representatives in other countries and the Joint Center under the SSU, the organization Operation Hope Finland, Mykolaiv Military-Civilian Administration, Vitalii Kim, the Department of Education and Science of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, and all those involved for their selfless work for the well-being of the little citizens of Ukraine for their help. We can make miracles and provide a happy future for every child only together!