Another 12 Ukrainian children returned to their homeland

This was announced by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"We managed to return 12 Ukrainian children to their homeland! The children and their families lived in the TOT – in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Fortunately, they are now on the territory contrled by Ukraine," he said.

According to the Ombudsman, each family experienced the disorder caused by the occupation "authorities" in their own way, they say they were forced to take Russian passports, doctors did not even accept children with birth defects who need careful attention.

At the same time, parents are offered to send their children for "rehabilitation", which is often deportation or forced displacement.

"According to the returnees, the Russians on the TOT detain, beat, torture with electricity, exert psychogical pressure on adults, and interrogate children without their parents present, using torture methods. They regularly conduct unreasonable searches in the homes of local residents," Lubinets said.

The official shared that he was personally impressed by the story of a returned boy who, planning his future, left the TOT because he wanted to become a Ukrainian rescuer and get an education in a dream university.

The Ombudsman stressed that it was the feeling of disenfranchisement, limitation, and awareness of what the future hds for children that prompted the families to move to the government-contrled territory.

Read also: Ukraine returns 758 children from Russia and occupied territories – commissioner

"The families have already visited our Child Protection Centre. A competent multifunctional team talked to them and recorded the crimes they witnessed or were victims of," he said.

Lubinets said that Ukraine is always ready for the return of everyone and will provide basic humanitarian, medical, psychogical, social and other necessary assistance.

As Ukrinform reported, Ukraine has returned 758 children from the territory of the Russian Federation and the occupied territories.