**Three Ukrainian Children Returned Home**
Ukraine‘s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced on January 7 that three Ukrainian children have been returned from Russian-occupied regions to Ukraine-controlled territory. The children include a 17-year-old boy and two younger boys.
The 17-year-old boy faced persecution by Russian occupation authorities for his pro-Ukrainian stance and assistance to the Ukrainian army. He was subjected to interrogations, threats, and intimidation, but remained strong.
**Humanitarian Support**
The teenager is now receiving humanitarian and financial support from Lubinets’ office. He is also preparing to continue his education in Ukraine.
**Family Reunited**
The two younger boys were separated from their mother, who fled Ukraine due to the war. They were left with their biological father in occupied Donetsk Oblast. With the assistance of Lubinets’ office, they have been evacuated and reunited with their mother.
**War’s Impact on Children**
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, almost 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russian forces. Fewer than 400 have been returned home. Investigations have revealed systemic efforts to re-educate and adopt these children through government-linked platforms.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the official allegedly overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia, in March 2023. The ICC believes Putin “bears individual criminal responsibility” for crimes committed against Ukrainian children.
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