Russian occupying authorities seize four children from family in temporarily occupied Kherson region
Four minor children have been seized from a family in the “Novokakhovka municipal district” of the temporarily occupied Kherson Region (Oblast), the so-called acting head of the Nova Kakhovka occupation administration reported. Vladimir Oganesov cited a “direct threat to their life or health” as the reason.
Photo credit: Russian occupation official Vladimir Oganesov on TelegramThe children were seized by the illegitimate “department of guardianship, custody and patronage”, Oganesov said. They are currently in specialised institutions.
One child was taken to the Henichesk Central District Hospital for medical assistance. Three others were placed in the Novokyivka “social rehabilitation centre for minors”, which the occupation authorities illegally opened in November 2024.
According to the Ukrainian publication Most, the occupation authorities illegally opened the “social rehabilitation centre for minors” on the premises of the Novokyivka special school, founded in 1987.
The occupation administration did not provide any further details regarding the circumstances of the children’s seizure.
Photo credit: Russian occupation official Vladimir Oganesov on TelegramAccording to the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the Russian authorities had deported or forcibly transferred at least 1,205 Ukrainian children from the occupied territories as of March 2026.
Most of these transfers were not temporary, as required by international law during evacuations. According to the commission, 80% of the children from the documented cases have not been returned.
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