In Ukraine, the forced evacuation of children from areas of active hostilities has been legally regulated, even in cases where parents refuse.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the corresponding bill No. 12353 in the second reading, as reported by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Bohdan Drapyatyi.
According to the new law, if a settlement is located in an area of active military operations and parents or legal representatives refuse to evacuate the child, the evacuation will be carried out by the National Police. After transfer to safe regions, children will be handed over to guardianship and care authorities. Decisions about such forced evacuation will be made by military administrations in agreement with the Coordination Headquarters.
Overall, the document refines the mechanisms for mandatory evacuation of civilians from dangerous territories, including persons with disabilities and elderly citizens. Military command now has the right to propose to military administrations a list of settlements for mandatory evacuation, and in areas where it is conducted, restrictions on entry and the presence of outsiders may be imposed.
According to the deputy minister, adopting the law will allow more effective saving of the lives of people who, because of age or health, cannot look after themselves independently.
Recall that in the summer of 2025 in the Kherson region expanded the list of settlements, in which mandatory evacuation of families was announced and entry was prohibited.