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Survivors' Stories: Ukrainian Kids Taken by Russia Tell Their Journeys
At a crowded event at the Ukrainian Embassy in Rome, a group of teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18, along with their grandparents and other family members, faced reporters and camera crews.
Some resided in areas controlled by Russia or occupied regions of the Donetsk province, while others were captured by Moscow's troops in different locations.
Due to Bring Kids Back Ukraine, the initiative established by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aimed at facilitating the return of children who were taken away, which organized the event, they have now been securely brought back to areas under Ukrainian control.
Their accounts reveal one of the most sinister elements of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian propaganda and indoctrination, along with confinement, removal, and in certain instances, abuse, were some of the hardships they faced during their imprisonment.
Their stories expose a structured method of indoctrination and Russian assimilation, designed to erase Ukrainian children's sense of self.
As per Bring Kids Back Ukraine, these actions aim to either alter the population structure of Russian-occupied areas or prepare young Ukrainians to become future combatants.
The magnitude is incredible. During Wednesday's conference, Eleonora Mongelli, vice president of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, stated that as many as 1.6 million Ukrainian children are still under Russian control.
As of now, Ukraine has repatriated approximately 1,600 children, with each return facilitated by an external entity — including Qatar, South Africa, and the Vatican.
More than 19,500 instances of children being taken against their will have been confirmed by Ukrainian officials since the beginning of Russia's large-scale invasion in early 2022.
These are the children for whom comprehensive details can be found; their home in Ukraine and whereabouts in Russia are identified. However, the real count is probably significantly greater.
Yale’s Humanitarian Research Labapproximates that the count of children who have been deported reaches approximately 35,000 by March 19, 2025.
Russia's Children's Rights Ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova, stated that Russia "accepted" 700,000 Ukrainian children between February 2022 and July 2023.
The experience of 'filtration camps'
"Detention camps" — a method employed by Moscow to monitor and assess Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied areas — represent another difficult situation remembered by most of the children who have returned along with their families, as they shared their experiences on Wednesday.
These facilities, essentially acting as checkposts, have been in use since the beginning of the invasion to question residents, inspect their possessions, and evaluate their "loyalty."
Individuals are compelled to go through them while traveling between cities or when moving from regions under Ukrainian control to those under Russian control.
"They look for tattoos to determine if you have any Ukrainian symbols," says Yuliia Dvornychenko, who was held for two years in Russian-controlled areas.
They also check your phone to determine if you have images or contact details of military personnel—anything related to Ukraine. In both instances, you are prohibited from proceeding, which may result in imprisonment.
Traveling through these camps frequently leads to families being separated, with children being taken away from their family members. This is what occurred to Liudmyla Siryk and her grandson, Oleksandr, who was now sitting next to her.
Following serious injuries sustained in a bombing in Mariupol in 2022, Oleksandr and his family were taken prisoner by Russian troops.
Throughout the filtration process, he was separated from his mother. He was sent to occupied Donetsk and later found and returned to Ukraine by his grandmother.
Veronika, sent to an orphanage in Russia
The account of Veronika Vlasova, who chose to speak with Euronews, outlines the potential fate of Ukrainian children who have been taken.
When the full-scale war started in 2022, Russian troops encircled her village in the Kherson area of southern Ukraine. Without any escape routes, she and her aunt had to flee towards Russia.
Vlasova was 13 years old. She remained in the country for several months, with officials preventing her from departing. She was detained in a processing camp where she had to attend classes.
Ukrainian children bullied me," she said to Euronews. "I was compelled to declare my love for Russia, or they would have beaten me.
She also recalls how local officials attempted to persuade her that she had no future in Ukraine. "When the police questioned me, they repeatedly said that Ukraine no longer existed, that Russia was the only choice, and that it would be better for me to remain."
The most painful experience occurred when she was torn away from her aunt andtransferred to an orphanage, where Vlasova remained isolated for two weeks. "It was extremely difficult for me," she remembered. "I felt lonely and had no one to speak with."
Now 16, Vlasova resides in Kyiv following her safe return to Ukraine. Due to the trauma she experienced, she has been identified with multiple psychological issues and is currently undergoing medical care.
Abductions frequently leave enduring consequences that remain unspoken
Maksym Maksymov, head of projects at Bring Kids Back Ukraine, stated that the real concern is not just the number of children who have been repatriated, but also their experiences and how they adjust upon returning.
"It's the same approach they use when they challenge Ukraine's independence and our values," Maksymov said to Euronews.
"The same applies to children. The Russian Federation aims to ensure that from a young age until they reach 18, kids are taught specific 'truths' about the world—that everyone is an enemy and no one can be trusted," he explained.
This makes them highly susceptible. They are unsure whom to believe, and they are very confused.
Even with psychological assistance available, numerous children still experience lasting consequences from being held captive.
One point psychologists highlight," said Maksymov, "is that children become highly compliant—as if they have completely lost their sense of free will.
At the same conference, Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy head of President Zelenskyy's office, stated that Ukraine hopes the Holy See will serve as an official mediator with Russia to help ease discussions regarding the return of civilians.
A message from Zelenskyy was handed to Pope Leo XIV before the meeting scheduled for Friday between the pope and the group of children who have returned, requesting that the initiative previously introduced by the late Pope Francis be made official.
During Pope Francis's papacy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi acted as the pope's representative on humanitarian matters.
To accomplish more, we must standardize this procedure within the Vatican," Vereshchuk stated. "This is why the request is now submitted formally.
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