Against all odds: a 17-year-old’s journey to liberation

Travelling thousands of kilometres through enemy territory to reach free Ukrainian soil because life under occupation was unbearable – this was the adult-like experience that 17-year-old Lera had alone.

When Russian troops occupied her hometown of Nova Kakhovka, Lera was just 16 years old. She was an orphan cared for by her grandmother and one of 500 children deported to Crimea under the pretext of being evacuated and the promised few weeks at a camp near Yevpatoria turned into months. In addition to the poor living conditions, the children were constantly subjected to Russian indoctrination.

After several months, Lera’s grandmother was able to return her home. The girl realised that her only wish was to escape the occupation. When she turned 17, she enrolled in an online Ukrainian medical college. Her grandmother arranged the necessary documents, allowing Lera to leave the occupied territory. Thus began a perilous journey back home fraught with grave risk.

Lera travelled through occupied Melitopol, Berdyansk, and Mariupol before arriving in Rostov, Russia. From there, she travelled to Sumy, Ukraine, via a temporarily open humanitarian corridor.

Lera began her studies in Kyiv and met with a psychologist. Through this, she met Olga, who became her new guardian. However, Lera’s story is more of an exception than a rule.

Children in captivity

According to official statistics, approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia, and these are just the registered cases. The real number could be much higher. To date, only approximately 400 children have been returned. This means that thousands of young Ukrainians continue to be held captive by the enemy and subjected to physical and psychological abuse.

Deportation, forced relocation, separation from parents, placement with Russian families, imposed citizenship, political indoctrination, russification, and militarisation are all methods used to forcibly erase these young people’s Ukrainian identity.

Deportation, however, is not the only hardship that Ukrainian children face. Living under occupation creates its own trauma, with constant fear and instability dictating their daily activities. The exact number of children remaining in occupied Ukrainian territories is unknown.

The effects of occupation and deportation on young lives

Nataliia Sosnovenko, Head of the Psychology Expertise and Methodology Centre and a psychologist at the “Children’s Voices” Foundation, told UkraineWorld about the traumatic experiences of children who have been occupied and deported. Drawing on her work with these children and their families, Sosnovenko shed light on the harsh conditions they endured and the impact it had on their mental health.

According to Nataliia, this experience is extremely difficult for adults, let alone children, for whom war has become an integral part of their lives. This has an impact on their physical, emotional, and mental health.

Children in occupied territories or who have been deported face various forms of violence. They face physical abuse, including torture, as well as psychological trauma. This psychological violence manifests in a variety of ways, including coercion into carrying out unpleasant acts.

Examples include forced Russian language instruction and mandatory participation in events promoting Russian culture and ideology under the threat of punishment. These children also face restrictions on their freedom of movement and economic hardship, such as limited access to food and other necessities. Importantly, these different types of violence are not isolated incidents but are inextricably linked.

Many children witness acts of violence against others and deaths firsthand. Families connected to Ukrainian military personnel are especially vulnerable to harsh treatment.

Children under occupation live in a constant state of danger. They are constantly threatened by shelling and often unable to seek shelter in time. They are forbidden to speak their native language for fear of being punished. Children witness the destruction of their homes, schools, and urban infrastructure. They face forced relocations, separation from loved ones, and the loss of familiar surroundings. Essentially, these children are deprived of the safe environment that once fostered their childhood and allowed for normal communication and development.

Children in occupied areas encounter significant disruptions to their education. Many of them are unable to go to Ukrainian schools at all. Those who want to continue their Ukrainian education online must do so in secret, setting up makeshift classrooms in their homes to study without being overheard. They close the windows tightly to block out any sounds that could reveal what they’re doing.

There is intense pressure to attend Russian schools. Parents who refuse to enrol their children in these institutions risk having them taken away. This coercion includes so-called “recreation camps,” which are marketed as safer environments for children’s health. However, most parents have no choice but to let their children go because refusing would result in forced separation from their families.

These “camps” are anything but recreational. Children are transported in buses accompanied by armed personnel dressed in military uniforms. They are not permitted to stand or make stops during the journey, emphasising the camp’s true purpose as a tool for deportation and indoctrination.

Another significant challenge for these children is limited or nonexistent access to medical care. Ambulances are frequently unavailable or unresponsive, making it difficult for them to seek assistance when necessary. Even when medical assistance is theoretically available, there may not be enough qualified doctors to provide the necessary support.

These experiences cause profound psychological trauma. Many children are in a state of acute stress, which manifests in their behaviour as they attempt to cope with overwhelming pain. 

Sleep disturbances, including nightmares, are fairly common, as well as a persistent feeling of anxiety and fear for their own and their loved ones’ safety. Many people who have witnessed the deaths of others suffer from survivor’s guilt. Social difficulties arise, particularly among teenagers, for whom peer relationships are critical to development. These children often do not have the resources to process their trauma. Thus, thorough and high-quality rehabilitation is required.

Rehabilitation challenges and strategies

Children who have been traumatised in occupied territories face a complex and lengthy rehabilitation process. Nataliia notes that Ukraine currently lacks a well-defined algorithm for such rehabilitation. However, based on their experience, specialists have devised a general strategy. 

The first step is to address the child’s basic needs, which include a medical examination, resolving daily issues, and assisting with socialisation. It is crucial to recognise that many children do not return to their original homes and require assistance adjusting to new living and educational environments.

Psychological support can only begin once these basic needs have been met. Psychologists work with both children and adults in their lives, tailoring methods for each child and family. This support can last anywhere from a few months to years. Specialists also teach stress-management techniques as well as emotional and behavioural awareness.

A comprehensive approach to rehabilitation is necessary. Specialists must pay close attention to details, as even seemingly insignificant factors such as clothing or scents can elicit traumatic memories.

Returning Ukrainian children home requires more active participation from the international community. When decision-makers see statistics, they must understand that they are not mere numbers. Each figure represents a child’s life and future, which could be lost due to inaction.

It is worth noting that the appeal from Ukrainian psychologists is not primarily for material assistance with funds. Rather, it is a call to the international community to develop mechanisms that will facilitate the return of Ukrainian children to their homes.

Authors:

Anastasiia Herasymchuk, deputy editor-in-chief at UkraineWorld

Nataliia Sosnovenko, Head of the Psychology Expertise and Methodology Centre and a psychologist at the “Children’s Voices” Foundation

Original Source: https://ukraineworld.org/en/articles/analysis/stolen-ukrainian-children

 

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