United24: What happens to a Ukrainian Adbucted by Russia--A Journey

You are separated from your family. One moment you’re with your loved ones, and the next, Russian soldiers arrive. Your parents are taken, and you are left behind—alone, terrified, and unsure where you are going.

You’re sent to a strange place. You’re taken from a “recreation camp” or an orphanage in a foreign land. The surroundings are unfamiliar, the faces strange, and you’re told you’re there for your “safety”. But something doesn’t feel right.

You’re re-educated to hate your own country. You’re taught to believe that Ukraine is your enemy. You’re told lies about your homeland, about its leaders, and about the people you once called family. You’re made to sing the Russian anthem and recite their beliefs as your own.

You learn to live under threat. If you speak your language, you’re punished. If you resist, you’re isolated. People watch every move you make, every word you say. They make sure you’re a part of their system, loyal to Russia and its army.

You wonder if you’ll ever see home again. Days turn into months. You try to remember the warmth of your home, but everything fades. You’re told you’re abandoned. You’re told your family doesn’t want you anymore. You begin to lose hope.

You wait for a way out. But then, someone reaches out. A family member, an organisation, a chance to escape. A promise to return to Ukraine. Will you be one of the lucky ones to go home?

You’re returned home—but many are not. Some children make it back, but for many, the journey ends with no return. As of 2025, over 19,000 children are still held, their identities erased, their futures stolen.