A 12-year-old boy has been brought back from the part of Kherson region temporarily occupied by the Russians.
This was reported by Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.
The Ombudsman’s Office received a plea from the child’s older sister to rescue Andriy. The boy had been living with his grandmother in the temporarily occupied territory since his mother’s passing in the summer of 2022.
According to Lubinets, during the occupation, they endured «all the advantages of the Russian world»: intimidation, psychological pressure, and visits from representatives of the occupation authorities. The boy faced threats of being taken away from his grandmother and placed in an orphanage, as he was left without a legal representative.
On January 1, he successfully reached the territory controlled by Ukraine.
«Hence, the first day of the new year symbolically marked the beginning of a new life for this family», – emphasized the Commissioner.
The return became possible through the collaborative efforts of the Ombudsman’s Office and the Ukrainian Child Rights Network.