Ukraine rescues children from Russian-occupied territories amidst torture

Ukraine has freed more children from the temporarily Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Those who were freed described the horrific conditions of captivity. The children were reportedly beaten, and electric shocks were used as a form of cruel torture.

The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years. Russians continue to commit brutal crimes against civilians. Putin's soldiers do not spare even children's hospitals. From time to time, we report on freed captives who talk about the conditions in Russian captivity. In recent days, Ukraine has also managed to recover abducted citizens.

In the temporarily occupied territories, Russians detain, beat, use electric shocks, apply psychological pressure on adults, interrogate children without the presence of their parents, and torture them. They also regularly conduct baseless searches in the homes of local residents, quoted the portal "Pravda" of Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.

The Commissioner noted that the family of the released individuals reported that Russians forced them to obtain Russian citizenship in the occupied territories. Without such a document, people could not access social benefits or seek medical care.

Doctors do not even accept children with congenital disorders who need comprehensive care. However, parents are offered to send the children for "rehabilitation," which often means deportation or forced relocation, says Lubinets.

The Commissioner also emphasized that children are forced to attend Russian schools. In this way, the idea of the "Russian world" is promoted, including the superiority of Russian Orthodoxy, culture, and language.

Currently, the children are safe. They are in the Centre for Child Protection, and a team of specialists has talked to them and documented the crimes committed by Russians.