He said two boys and one girl between the ages of 15 and 17 had been returned.
According to Oleksandr Prokudin, a 15-year-old girl had refused to attend a Russian school for two years. However, after occupation authorities threatened her mother with the loss of parental rights, the family came under pressure.
Because of fear and prolonged isolation from her peers, the girl’s health deteriorated, Prokudin said.
He added that a 16-year-old boy was also returned after deciding to leave the occupied territory when Russian authorities delivered a draft notice to his home.
Prokudin said the children are now safe at Hope and Recovery centers, where they are receiving psychological support, assistance with documents, housing and other necessary aid.
In June 2025, a team of researchers at Yale University concluded that Russia could be holding about 35,000 Ukrainian children considered missing. Some were reportedly adopted by Russian families, while others were transferred to military camps or placed in boarding schools.
According to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, 2,145 children had been returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory as of April 29.