Since March, Ukraine has evacuated 10 young people aged 18–19 from the temporarily occupied territories and Russian territory
Since March 2026, with the assistance of the Office of the Ombudsman, 10 young Ukrainians have been able to leave the temporarily occupied territories and the Russian Federation and return to Ukraine.
The team of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights carried out extensive work to organize the safe departure of these young men and women.
All those evacuated are adult citizens who have consciously chosen to live in territory controlled by Ukraine.
The state is currently providing them with the necessary support to adapt to their new surroundings.
“These are 10 young men and women aged 18–19. Despite years of living under occupation, they want to study at Ukrainian universities, live in a free society, and build their careers right here—in their own country. For them, returning has become an opportunity to determine their own future,” Lubinets wrote on his Telegram channel.
The Ombudsman shared the story of one of the evacuated young men, who was only 14 years old when the occupation began.
His younger sister had previously managed to leave and successfully settle in Odesa. The young man remained with his parents for a long time, as they were caring for his seriously ill grandmother, and he was unable to leave home.
“With each passing year, the boy felt more and more acutely that he saw no future for himself under occupation. He saw no opportunities for development, education, or freedom. And so he made a difficult but conscious decision—to return to Ukraine. Today, he is in Odesa with his sister,” Lubinets said.
Ukrainian authorities continue to document numerous instances of pressure on young people who remain under the control of the invaders.
The return of each citizen is the result of lengthy and complex negotiations. The Ombudsman’s Office urges relatives of people under occupation to contact the hotline to arrange for evacuation.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, reported on the successful return of citizens.
A woman who saved over 100 people was evacuated from Kostiantynivka
About 200 people were evacuated from the Kupiansk area
