On October 10, 2022, 37 children deported by the russians were returned to Ukraine. It was the largest group of children to return home at one time.

The story started when the kids were taken by force in August 2022 while Kharkiv region was occupied. They were supposedly taken to a children’s camp in the russian village of Kabardinka for recreation. However, after the de-occupation of the region and although the children have parents, the Russians refused to return the group to Ukraine.

The journey back was tough, but it ended well. The children went back to their families and homes, thanks to the Ministry of Reintegration, State Migration Service, SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine Charitable Organization, and carriers’ coordinated teamwork.

Natalia Yemets, one of the teenagers’ mothers and head of the deportees department of the Ministry of Reintegration’s Department of Crisis Response, spoke about the return.

The return story’s details were published on ZN.UA. You can read the article here.