A 17-year-old Ukrainian boy was returned from Russian-occupied territory in the Kherson region to government-controlled Ukraine. The boy had lived under occupation for two years, attended a Russian school, and feared being forced to fight against Ukraine after completing the so-called 'young army' program.

A 17-year-old Ukrainian boy was returned from temporarily occupied Kherson region after two years of occupation and forced attendance at a Russian school, with fears of being conscripted into fighting against Ukraine.

Mykyta, 17, was forcibly taken to Russia from occupied Kherson and was forced to attend Russian school where Ukrainian children faced discrimination.

Mykyta would have been forced to fight against Ukraine after turning 18 following service in the 'Young Army' program.

A 17-year-old boy previously illegally deported to Russia from then-occupied Kherson returned to his family in Ukraine

At least 19,500 children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Less than 400 of them have returned home

The boy was subjected to so-called "patriotic education" including propaganda lessons about war and military training

At age 18, after the Yunarmia (Young Army), the Russians would force him to fight against his Motherland

According to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, one person died as a result of Russian aggression.