Inside the ‘underground railroad’ Ukraine is using to bring back children from Russia

Inside the ‘underground railroad’ Ukraine is using to bring back children from Russia

A Teen’s Secret Journey from Crimea

Rostyslav Lavrov’s escape from a Russian naval academy in occupied Crimea was a calculated act of defiance. At 19, he had spent three years in the institution, where Moscow had seized control of his hometown in Ukraine’s Kherson region. The academy had even attempted to issue him a new Russian birth certificate to solidify his identity as a citizen of the occupying power. But Lavrov refused to accept that fate. In October 2023, he executed a covert plan to return to Ukraine, becoming one of approximately 2,000 children and teens repatriated from Russia, Belarus, or Russian-occupied territories.

Many of these children had to leave under the radar, as official exits were nearly impossible. Ukraine has mobilized global alliances to pressure Russia into cooperation, but progress has been slow. Of the 2,000 returned, fewer than a quarter used formal routes: 83 aided by Qatar and 19 facilitated through a program linked to Melania Trump’s initiatives. Lavrov’s operation, however, relied on underground networks. He had secretly connected with Save Ukraine, an organization dedicated to rescuing children trapped in occupied regions.

“I chose a day when I had classes in another building. I got up in the morning, put on my uniform and did everything as normal so they would think I was going to study,” Lavrov told CNN. “I didn’t take anything with me to avoid drawing attention to myself. I was nervous at the checkpoints, but I tried to stay calm and not show it.”

Strategies and Risks in the Rescue Efforts

Mykola Kuleba, founder of Save Ukraine and former children’s ombudsman, described Lavrov’s escape as representative of broader operations. “It’s like a special operation for every child,” he said, urging CNN to keep details confidential to protect participants. Kuleba emphasized that the group avoids collaboration with Russian authorities, as any shared information could trigger complications. He claimed that once Moscow identifies a child as a target, it will take extreme measures to prevent their return.

A Mother’s Struggle to Reclaim Her Sons

Yulia Dvornychenko’s ordeal highlights the personal toll of these efforts. Arrested in 2021 in Torez, an eastern Ukrainian town under pro-Russia separatist control since 2014, she was accused of espionage. As a widow with a new partner detained alongside her, she was pressured to sign a false confession to secure her sons’ release. Mark, then 9, and Danylo, 17, were threatened with placement in a Russian orphanage. Dvornychenko agreed, and the children were separated.

Eighteen months later, she was freed in a prisoner of war exchange. Meanwhile, Mark remained in Torez with a family friend, and Danylo had fled to Moscow, fearing conscription into the Russian military. Upon reaching government-controlled Ukrainian territory, Dvornychenko immediately launched a campaign to reunite with her sons. Russian officials initially promised Mark’s return via the same exchange, but the terms shifted. They now required her to personally retrieve him, a condition Ukraine deemed risky due to the threat of re-arrest.