Amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, the government has made an unprecedented decision aimed at protecting the country's most vulnerable citizens. For the first time, an official mechanism for the mandatory evacuation of children from active combat zones has been approved if they are left without parental or legal guardian supervision. The document was developed by the Ministry of Social Policy to close legal loopholes regarding the rescue of minors.

Legal status and action algorithm

The new government decree introduces a clear definition of an "evacuated child" and regulates the actions of state authorities in critical situations. The initiative arose in response to the real threat to the lives of children left in border and dangerous zones without adult supervision.

The process is organized by guardianship authorities in close cooperation with the National Police. As seen in photos from evacuation zones, law enforcement officers help children put on special vests marked "ДІТИ" (Children) and ensure their safe removal from the risk zone.

What happens after evacuation?

The mechanism provides not only for the physical removal of the child from the danger zone but also for subsequent social and medical support. Upon arrival in a safe region, the minor undergoes a mandatory medical examination. Specialists assess their condition and determine the need for assistance.

A key stage is the temporary placement of the child. The action algorithm is built on the principle of family environment priority:

  • First, guardianship authorities attempt to transfer the child to relatives or close people.
  • If transfer to relatives is impossible, the child is temporarily placed in a foster or adoptive family.
  • Placement in family-type children's homes or social protection institutions is also provided for.

Monitoring of parents

The document also regulates complex family situations where, after evacuation, parents do not maintain contact with the child for a long time and do not fulfill their duties. In such cases, the state takes responsibility for the future of the minor, ensuring their protection and a stable environment for life.

Regions of mandatory evacuation

The introduction of new rules coincided with large-scale evacuations in several regions of Ukraine. Due to the deterioration of the security situation, mandatory evacuation of the population was declared in the Dnipropetrovsk region, specifically in Vasyilkivka of the Synelnykove district and Vyshe-Tarasivka of the Nikopol district.

Evacuation is also being carried out in three districts of the Kharkiv region: Shevchenkivka and Derhachi communities, as well as in the Bohodukhiv district. Since July 1, the mandatory order also applies to the border areas of the Chernihiv region. Evacuees are promised assistance with relocation, settlement, and humanitarian support.

Goal of the initiative

The Ministry of Social Policy emphasizes that the new system should ensure rapid and coordinated interaction of all services. According to the authorities' plan, the mechanism will allow for the timely rescue of children, guaranteeing them protection and a safe environment even in the absence of parents.