Inside the ‘Underground Railroad’ Ukraine is Using to Bring Back Children from Russia

A Secret Operation to Retrieve Ukrainian Children

Rostyslav Lavrov’s decision to flee was driven by fear. At 16, he was sent to a Russian naval academy in occupied Crimea, a move that symbolized his forced assimilation into the Russian identity. The institution attempted to issue him a new birth certificate, effectively erasing his Ukrainian roots. Determined to resist, Lavrov embarked on a covert journey back to Ukraine in October 2023. Now 19 and living in Kyiv, he is among the approximately 2,000 children and teens who have returned home after being deported, transferred, or stranded in Russia, Belarus, or Russian-occupied areas.

Many of these young individuals had to exit Russia unnoticed, as obtaining official permission to leave was nearly impossible. Ukraine has mobilized global support to pressure Russia into cooperation, but results have been modest. Of the 2,000 children who have returned, less than a quarter exited through formal channels: 83 with assistance from Qatar and 19 via a program initiated by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. Lavrov’s escape was meticulously planned over three months, culminating in his final departure from the Russian school. He reached out to volunteers from Save Ukraine, an organization dedicated to rescuing children trapped in Russian-occupied regions. Their efforts arranged his route out of the country.

“I chose a day when I had classes in another building. I put on my uniform and acted normally, making them believe I was going to study,” Lavrov said to CNN. “I didn’t take anything with me to avoid suspicion. I stayed calm at checkpoints, though my nerves were high.”

Yulia Dvornychenko’s Struggle with Russian Obstacles

Yulia Dvornychenko’s experience highlights the challenges faced by families. In 2021, she was detained in Torez, an eastern Ukrainian town under pro-Russia separatist control, and accused of being a Ukrainian spy. Separated from her sons, Danylo (17) and Mark (9), she was pressured to confess to false charges, which she signed to secure their release. Now a widow, her partner was also arrested, leading to her children’s placement in a Russian orphanage.

Eighteen months later, Dvornychenko was released in a prisoner-of-war exchange. Mark, now 11, remained in Torez with a family friend, while Danylo hid in Moscow to evade military service. Upon returning to government-controlled territory, she initiated efforts to reunite with her sons, aided by the Ukrainian government. Initially, Russian authorities promised Mark’s return via the POW exchange, but new demands emerged: Dvornychenko had to personally retrieve him, a risk Ukraine refused to accept.

“I told him it meant he was coming home. I knew what happened during those exchanges,” Dvornychenko recalled. She waited a week at the Zaporizhzhia exchange site, only to learn Mark had not been returned as expected.

Mykola Kuleba, founder of Save Ukraine and former children’s ombudsman, described Lavrov’s escape as a typical mission. “It’s like a special operation for every child,” he said, urging CNN to withhold details to protect volunteers. He emphasized that the group operates independently of Russian authorities, as any communication could lead to complications. “Once Moscow knows Ukraine wants a child back, they will do everything to stop them,” Kuleba warned.

A Nation Facing a Demographic Crisis

As Ukraine grapples with a demographic “catastrophe,” its efforts to recover children from Russia have become a lifeline for families. The underground railroad, though small in scale, represents a defiant struggle against forced displacement. While some children return through diplomatic channels, most rely on clandestine networks to navigate the dangers of crossing borders. For those like Lavrov and Dvornychenko, the journey is not just physical—it is a battle to reclaim identity and family in a war that continues to reshape their lives.