Ukraine: Over 2 Million Children Flee Since Invasion
Over two million children have fled Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, according to a Ukrainian news report.
Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shared this information on Facebook, along with a photo from Time magazine's 2022 TOP 100 list. The image shows young patients at the Okhmatdit Children's Hospital awaiting another Russian attack in the hospital's bomb shelter.
Zelenska reported that 528 children have been killed by Russia during the war. At least 1,230 children have been injured. More than 330 have required prosthetics.
"Over 2 million of our children have fled the country to escape the fighting. More than a million Ukrainian children study entirely online due to Russian attacks on front-line regions. About 2,000 schools still do not have bomb shelters," Zelenska emphasised.
The First Lady also highlighted that Russia has abducted and forcibly removed over 19,000 children from the temporarily occupied territories.
Zelenska acknowledged the impossibility of returning the stolen years of childhood, but emphasised the need to ensure that February 24, 2022 remains a single, tragic episode. "May they have a long, happy, and fulfilling life."
Translation by Iurie Tataru