Five Ukrainians have returned from the occupied territories
Five more Ukrainians who had been living under Russian occupation were successfully returned to territory controlled by Ukraine. Among them were minors who, despite pressure from the occupiers, continued to study under the Ukrainian curriculum and were planning their future in Ukraine.
Another five Ukrainians were able to leave the temporarily occupied territories and return to territory controlled by Ukraine. The return was facilitated by the civil society organizations Helping to Leave and “Compass of Dreams,” as well as with the assistance of the Coordination Headquarters. The names of some of the individuals have been changed for security reasons.
Among those who returned were sisters Natalia and Katya, their mother, and two young people—18-year-old Kirill and 17-year-old Maria.
The two sisters left with their mother
Natalia and Katya are sisters from a large family. Their older brothers had left the temporarily occupied territory earlier. Later, the girls and their mother also decided to leave. The family turned to the Helping to Leave team for assistance. The organization helped plan their route and accompanied the family during their departure. With the assistance of the Coordination Headquarters, the sisters received permits to return to Ukraine.
After that, they were able to cross the border with their mother and enter territory controlled by Ukraine. Now the family is together again. The girls have reunited with their older brothers and plan to continue their lives in Ukraine.
Maria studied under the Russian curriculum
Another Maria left a part of the Luhansk region that Russia occupied back in 2014. She was a child at the time of the occupation. At first, she managed to complete only one grade under the Ukrainian curriculum, but was then forced to study under the Russian one. Later, Maria decided to leave the occupied territory. She reached out to Helping to Leave for assistance.
The team helped her plan her route. With the assistance of the Coordination Headquarters, she obtained the necessary documents—a certificate allowing her to return to Ukraine. Maria was able to travel to territory controlled by Ukraine. Now she wants to complete her studies and finish 11th grade. After that, she plans to work and build her future in Ukraine.
Kirill has lived under occupation since childhood
Another Ukrainian who has returned is 18-year-old Kirill. His name has also been changed for security reasons. He has been living under occupation since 2014, when he was still a child. Despite living in Russian-occupied territory, his family supported Kirill’s desire to study and live in a free Ukraine.
Even before reaching the age of majority, he enrolled remotely at a Ukrainian institution of higher education. To leave, Kirill needed to obtain the necessary documents and plan a safe route. A team from the nonprofit organization “Compass of Dreams” helped him with this. Kirill was able to leave the occupied territory just one week after his 18th birthday. He then returned to territory controlled by Ukraine.
17-year-old Maria secretly studied under the Ukrainian curriculum
Another 17-year-old, Maria, was a child when Russia occupied her hometown in 2022. After seizing the city, the occupiers quickly closed Ukrainian schools. The girl refused to transfer to a Russian school and, despite the risks, continued her studies online under the Ukrainian curriculum. The occupiers also put pressure on the family, demanding that they obtain Russian passports. Maria and her parents refused to do so.
The pressure intensified when Russian soldiers came to the family’s home. According to the girl, they allegedly came to “get acquainted.” Despite all this, Maria continued her Ukrainian education remotely. She was able to obtain a Ukrainian certificate of complete secondary education and enrolled in college under Quota 2.
She reached out to the nonprofit “Compass of Dreams” for help several months before her departure. During that time, the team helped her prepare the necessary documents and organize her return. Eventually, Maria and her grandmother were able to leave the temporarily occupied territory. She is currently in Chernivtsi. This September, she is set to begin her freshman year and effectively start a new chapter of her life in a free Ukraine.
Returning from the Occupied Territories
As part of the President of Ukraine’s “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative, Ukrainian organizations and government agencies continue to help people leave the temporarily occupied territories. Such a departure often requires advance preparation of documents, a route, and a plan for crossing the border. This process can be particularly difficult for children and young people who have lived under occupation for years.
The stories of Ukrainians who have returned show that even after a long stay in the occupied territory, people try to maintain ties with Ukraine. Some children continue to study remotely using Ukrainian curricula, enroll in Ukrainian educational institutions, and plan to continue their education in government-controlled territory after leaving.
In this case, five people have returned to territory controlled by Ukraine. Among them are minors who, despite pressure from the occupiers, continued their Ukrainian education and did not give up on their plans to live in Ukraine. The Bring Kids Back UA initiative reported this on Facebook.
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