Lithuania to Rehabilitate Over 300 Ukrainian Children Freed from Russian Occupation
Lithuania is set to provide comprehensive physical and psychological rehabilitation for more than 300 Ukrainian children who were rescued from Russian-occupied territories.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Delfi.
The program, unveiled by Lithuania’s Ministry of Health, reflects the country’s deep commitment to supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
Under the two-year initiative, Ukrainian children who endured abduction, injury, and trauma under occupation will undergo treatment in Lithuania’s specialized medical and rehabilitation centers.
The program aims to help them recover physically and rebuild a sense of safety and trust after the horrors of war.
“This initiative is Lithuania’s expression of solidarity with Ukraine. We see the painful legacy of Russia’s war crimes against children and feel a moral obligation to help those who were abducted and traumatized,” said Lithuanian Health Minister Marija Jakubauskienė. “We want Lithuania to be a place where these children can find peace, trust, and hope. Rehabilitation in our medical institutions is the least we can do.”
Lithuanian health professionals with experience treating victims of military trauma will oversee the rehabilitation process.
The initiative combines medical care, psychological therapy, and social reintegration, drawing from Lithuania’s long-standing expertise in humanitarian and post-conflict recovery work.
The project is being implemented in close coordination with Ukrainian healthcare, child welfare, and social protection institutions, as well as the Embassy of Lithuania in Kyiv.
It aligns with broader international efforts to support Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA program, which seeks to return and rehabilitate children illegally taken to Russia or occupied regions.
As The Gaze informed earlier, according to a new study by Yale University, the number of places where Ukrainian children are being held in Russia has risen sharply, with more than 210 locations identified for their re-education and militarization.
Furthermore, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, at least 661 children have been killed and more than 1,400 have been injured to varying degrees.