After 1000 Days of Evacuation, Ukrainian Orphans Return from Turkey to Ukraine

12.12.2024

The state and non-governmental organizations are actively working to bring back children evacuated to European countries and Turkey from institutional care facilities at the onset of the full-scale invasion.

The Childhood Without War project has concluded. Ukrainian orphans evacuated to Turkey during the full-scale war have returned to Ukraine and are now undergoing a successful adaptation period.

Government representatives conducted regular monitoring visits to the children's locations and maintained ongoing cooperation with host country governments and international child welfare organizations to protect the rights of evacuated children.

A mechanism developed with partners for their return includes an individual assessment of each child's needs and prioritizing placement in family-based care over institutional settings.

Children from the Childhood Without War project are in a health and rehabilitation facility as part of their adaptation period. This phase is crucial for their reintegration, as they lacked full access to Ukrainian linguistic, cultural, and educational environments for nearly three years. The children are also learning safety rules related to the war. Most importantly, potential adoptive and foster families are being identified to care for them after the adaptation period.

On December 11, 2024, the adaptation process for the children and mechanisms for finding families were discussed at an event summarizing the Childhood Without War project. The event was attended by Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovych, President of TERWIN Corporation and founder of national chains EVA and VARUS, Ruslan Shostak, Head of the State Service for Children's Affairs Petro Dobromilsky, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar, members of the Ukrainian parliament, and representatives of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration.

“The state is working to return every child and find their families. This commitment is enshrined in the government’s Strategy to Ensure the Right of Every Child in Ukraine to Grow Up in a Family Environment. The adaptation period for children returning from Turkey will also allow them to meet and establish contact with families who will take them in. Similarly, we will bring back children from other countries and find families for them, helping them integrate into communities where they will live with their new families,” said Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovych.

Individual assessments of each child’s needs were conducted before their return to ensure their best interests.

“It’s important to understand that returning orphans isn’t just about providing housing, food, and education. It’s a comprehensive process of integrating them into society and preparing them for future life in Ukraine. Special attention is given to orphans returning from abroad, ensuring they have the best conditions in Ukraine. We believe that adoption and family-based care are the best forms of integration for these children. This is not just formal caregiving but an opportunity to experience true care and love. We are actively working with the returned children to expedite their adaptation and, together with regional child welfare services, are finding caring parents for them,” said Petro Dobromilsky, Head of the State Service for Children's Affairs.

Ukraine is grateful to the governments of the countries that temporarily hosted evacuated children, as well as international child welfare organizations, charitable foundations, and other partners for their care. UNICEF has provided consistent support during and after the children’s return. The evacuation and stay of children in Turkey were financed by the Ruslan Shostak Charitable Foundation, which will continue supporting their needs after their return to Ukraine.

“We were honored and, at the same time, entrusted with great responsibility to assist the state in evacuating Ukrainian orphans. From the very beginning, our foundation took on the task of organizing the evacuation and stay of children in Turkey, fulfilling these responsibilities over three years. This was made possible thanks to the foundation’s team, the Embassy and Consulate of Ukraine in Turkey, Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, Turkey’s Ministry of Family and Social Policy, and our Western partners, such as Nova Ukraine, the Red Cross, and many other partners and volunteers. Now that the children have returned to Ukraine, we will do everything possible to help the state swiftly adapt them and find families,” commented Ruslan Shostak, founder of the Ruslan Shostak Charitable Foundation and President of TERWIN Corporation.

The state is working to create conditions for the return of every child. Together with governmental and non-governmental partners, Ukraine continues to ensure children’s rights, including the right to grow up in a family environment.