Ukrainian orphan recounts forced transfer to Crimea and pro-Russia role

September 30, 2026 at 02:54 PM2 min

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Denys Kostev, a Ukrainian orphan from Kherson, was forcibly transferred to occupied Crimea in 2022 and made to appear in pro-Russian videos. He has since escaped to Kyiv and is preparing to fight for Ukraine. Kyiv says 84 Ukrainian orphans were held at the Luchisty camp in 2023.

Key Facts

Denys Kostev was 18 and living in an orphanage in Kherson when the full-scale Russian invasion began.
In late 2022, Kostev and other orphans were relocated to the Luchisty summer camp in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Kyiv said 84 Ukrainian orphans were held at the Luchisty camp in 2023.
More than 2,600 children have returned to Ukraine so far, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Kyiv claims Moscow has moved almost 20,000 Ukrainian minors to Russia during the war.

Forced Transfer to Crimea

Tanks rolled into Kherson days after the war began, and people suspected of pro-Ukrainian sympathies were rounded up and interrogated. In late 2022, Kostev and other orphans were relocated to the Luchisty summer camp in Russia-annexed Crimea. At the camp, orphans woke every morning to the Russian anthem and attended a weekly flag-hoisting ceremony. Kostev said the orphans were isolated and began to repeat pro-Russian narratives.

Pro-Russian Role and Escape

Kostev told Al Jazeera he played the role of a poster child for wartime Russia just to survive. He appeared in numerous videos for Russian television networks, and refusing to be filmed meant risking physical assault or jail, he said. Kostev has since escaped Russia and is now in Kyiv preparing to fight for Ukraine. At least one teenager Kostev met in the camp enlisted to fight against Kyiv, he said.

Ukraine's Return Efforts

Ukraine is working to return allegedly abducted children and collect evidence against individuals suspected of involvement in their capture. More than 2,600 children have returned so far, according to Ukrainian authorities. Kyiv said that 84 Ukrainian orphans were held at the Luchisty camp in 2023. Those who left were among almost 4,000 children forcibly taken from orphanages in Russia-occupied Ukrainian regions, according to Ukrainian rights groups. Kyiv claims Moscow has herded almost 20,000 Ukrainian minors to Russia to brainwash them during the war.