Five orphans deported to Russia brought back to Mykolaiv Oblast

Five deported students from the Novopetriv orphanage were brought back to Mykolaiv on 2 June. Source: Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration Details: At the time of the invasion, there were 15 children in the Novopetriv orphanage.

They were supposed to be taken out through the "green corridor", but the Russians broke the agreement and deported them to their territory a few months later.

Quote: "In March 2022, the institution was occupied, and in July 2022, Russian military personnel forcibly took children and staff to Kherson Oblast and from there to Krasnodar Krai in Russia. In November of the same year, the children and their accompanying persons were taken from Russia to Georgia," Vitalii Kim said.

Four of the children will go to new families upon their homecoming, and a 17-year-old girl will start studying at a vocational lyceum [specialised secondary school] in September. "I thank everyone who helped bring the boys and girls home.

I thank everyone who has been looking for a new family for them. Special thanks and respect to the legal guardians who took responsibility for them. It is incredibly brave and important," Vitalii Kim added.

Background:

• Thirteen more children illegally taken by Russia have recently been brought back to Ukraine.
• Also, 24-year-old policewoman Mariana Checheliuk from Mariupol has finally been liberated as part of the 52nd POW swap.

  She had been in captivity for more than two years.

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