The Ordeal of Ivan and Valeria: Children's Accounts of Life Under Occupation.

Children Rescued from Occupied Territories

According to TSN.ua: The return of children from occupied areas of Ukraine and Russia reveals the horrific experiences they endured during the war. These accounts highlight a disturbing pattern of violence and coercion. Ivan, a 12-year-old boy from the occupied part of Kherson region, became a victim of violence when his mother was killed during shelling. Left a complete orphan, it took volunteers seven months to successfully evacuate him to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ivan now lives under the care of a woman named Natalia in the Kyiv region, alongside four other orphans.

Valeria, a 16-year-old girl, spent a year and a half in a Russian camp where she was subjected to forced Russification and psychological pressure. She describes the profound impact of this experience, noting:

“The Russians break children's psyches. I am simply not myself anymore. You go to school, you learn and know Ukrainian, you speak Ukrainian at home, and then they come and tell you something completely different.” - Valeria

Valeria also observes that even her personality traits have changed following this ordeal.

Childhood Tragedies and Lasting Scars

The tragedies these children have survived leave deep psychological scars. Previous reports have included a Ukrainian woman who gave birth in Russia after being raped by an occupier and subsequently abandoned the infant. In occupied Zaporizhzhia, Russian soldiers raped two schoolgirls, indicating a pattern of systematic violence within the conflict zone. The plight of these child victims is an alarming signal demanding attention from both society and the international community. The ongoing conflict has created a generation of traumatized youth.

The rescue of children affected by military conflict underscores the urgent need for action by states and international organizations to protect children's rights. These cases demonstrate that the violence and trauma children experience during war can have long-term consequences for their mental and emotional well-being.

It is crucial to provide proper support and rehabilitation for such children to help them adapt to a normal life and restore their mental health.