Ukraine returns 15-year-old girl from Russian-occupied Kherson region

Russian forces detained the girl’s mother at one point and threatened to strip her of parental rights, he said.

The girl was also forced to hide her singing talent to avoid being compelled to participate in propaganda events, he said.

She is currently staying at a support center, where she is receiving psychological care and assistance with documentation, he said.

Russia may be holding about 35,000 Ukrainian children considered missing, a team of researchers at Yale University reported in June 2025. Some have been adopted by Russian families, while others have been placed in military camps or boarding schools.

A total of 2,126 children have been returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory as of April 29 under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.