Ukraine announced the return of a group of children and teenagers from Russian-occupied territories through the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, according to Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak.

The returns underscore the ongoing challenge of recovering Ukrainian children from Russia's systematic deportation campaign. Since February 2022, Russia has deported 19,546 Ukrainian children according to the Children of War portal, with only 1,791 returned as of 12 November 2025—a war crime for which the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023.

Children face harassment, forced assimilation under occupation

Among those returned was a 10-year-old girl whose classmates bullied her for her Ukrainian heritage, Yermak stated on Telegram. Her younger brothers at kindergarten were forced to sing Russian songs and collect money for the occupying army.

A 7-year-old girl and her 2-year-old brother lost their mother due to Russian doctors' inaction. Occupation authorities attempted to send the siblings to an orphanage despite having living relatives in Ukraine.

Another young person returned, now 19, had endured torture and execution threats from Russian military personnel because a relative served in Ukraine's Armed Forces. After reaching adulthood, occupation authorities placed him on the military registry.

Recent investigations reveal Russia systematically channels deported Ukrainian children through cadet schools and military training programs. The militarization campaign targets children as young as eight, subjecting them to years of pro-Russian indoctrination before conscripting them into occupation forces.

Russia weaponizes children as political leverage

The returns come as Russia uses deported Ukrainian children as bargaining chips with Washington, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Russian officials frame limited returns as goodwill gestures toward the United States while continuing mass deportations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently highlighted the Bring Kids Back UA initiative as the primary channel for facilitating children's returns. An international coalition of 41 countries now works to support these efforts.

"We are fulfilling the president's task—to return all Ukrainian children," Yermak said on his Telegram, thanking Save Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine's Joint Center, and international partners.

Read more:

From Donetsk orphans to Russian soldiers: How occupation transforms Ukrainian children into occupiers

Russia sees deported Ukrainian children as bargaining chips with Washington - ISW

US senators seek to question Russian ambassador on more than 19,000 abducted Ukrainian children

US President Donald Trump ruled out supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles on 23 October 2025 at the White House, during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, arguing the weapons are "too complex" for Ukrainian forces to learn quickly and stating that US personnel would not train them.

This decision draws a clear line on the advanced weaponry America is willing to provide, with the President personally refuting "fake news" reports that he had authorized long-range strikes, even as NATO allies continue to fund other US arms for Kyiv.

“A year of intense training”

When asked about providing the advanced cruise missiles, President Trump detailed the logistical and training barriers, effectively taking them off the table.

"Well, the problem with the Tomahawk that a lot of people don't know, it'll take a minimum of six months, usually a year, to learn how to use them. They're highly complex," Trump said.

He explicitly stated that the US would not take on the training mission, calling it "too far out into the future." "It takes a year of intense training to learn how to use it. And we know how to use it. And we're not going to be teaching other people."

“We're not going to do that”

The President further argued that the missile's complexity means it could only be effective with direct US involvement—a step he is unwilling to take.

"So, the only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it. And we're not going to do that," he stated.

“Fake story” on strike permissions

President Trump also used the press availability to forcefully deny a recent Wall Street Journal report, which he claimed falsely stated he had given Ukraine permission to strike deep into Russia.

"It's a fake story. Yeah, it's fake. Wall Street Journal is fake," he said. "...it said that I gave Ukraine permission to shoot missiles deep into Russia. I didn't do that."

He drew a distinction between US-supplied weapons and those from other countries:

"Second of all, they're not using our missiles. They're using, I think, European missiles [which] are from someplace, but they're not using ours. And what they do, I don't control that, but I do control our missiles. They're not shooting our missiles."

Alliance position vs national decisions

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who was present for the discussion, was also asked about Ukraine receiving Tomahawks. He deferred, stating the decision rests with individual members, not the alliance.

"When it comes to Tomahawks or whatever system, it's up to individual nations to decide whatever they want to supply to Ukraine. NATO doesn't take a position," Rutte said. "So I'm not going to comment on the Tomahawks..."