Zaporizhzhia region had long ranked first in Ukraine for the number of children in institutional care. However, each year more orphans were placed in family-based care, while orphanages continued to operate, accepting children from families in difficult circumstances. A significant number of children were also in specialized institutions for children with disabilities.

Everything changed during the first few months of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Despite the high likelihood of war, no orphanage was ready for evacuation. Children from the Berdyansk orphanage were evacuated to Italy in March 2022, already under occupation and under threat of shelling. The Polohy Educational and Rehabilitation Center (shelter), as well as the Zaporizhzhia, Orikhiv, and Myrne rehabilitation centers (shelters), were evacuated to Poland.

The most unclear situation concerns the Molochansk orphanage. According to media reports, its children could not be evacuated directly to Ukrainian-controlled territory; some were later returned via Belarus, while the fate of others is unknown. There is also little information about other institutions. Some orphanages and shelters that remained under occupation continue to operate and occasionally appear in news from the occupying authorities.

In spring 2022, institutions from Ukrainian-controlled parts of Zaporizhzhia region were evacuated. Huliaipole orphanage went to Poland, the “Sonechko” children’s home — to Lviv region. Children with severe disabilities from the Zaporizhzhia orphanage at Velykyi Luz were also evacuated to safer locations.

As far as I know, by early 2026 there are no longer any full-time residential institutions for children in Zaporizhzhia region. At the same time, many institutions with the name "orphanage" continue to operate in Zaporizhzhia, but children only attend classes there without staying overnight, like in a regular school (e.g., "Svitanok" — former orphanage No.3, orphanages No.1 and No.2, former orphanage No.7, and others).

On the other hand, it seems completely illogical that, after evacuating large institutions from Zaporizhzhia, authorities never planned to evacuate foster families and family-type homes. This is very strange logic: children live in both types of places, but the approach is different. Moreover, the authorities continue to buy houses for such families for millions of hryvnias, 20–25 km from the front line, in a city that is shelled daily. Recently, one family returned from Germany and immediately received such a house.

It is worth noting that evacuating orphans abroad saves lives, but scandals and many unclear situations continuously arise around these institutions. A lot of time and effort is required to understand what is really done in the interest of children and what is propaganda, political maneuvering, or the interests of certain adults.

Here are some examples.

Since 2023, Ukraine has been trying to bring back children from Berdyansk orphanage, who ended up near Bergamo in Italy. There were several Italian courts that prohibited the return of those children whose Italian guardians applied for refugee status, also citing the lack of guarantees for their safety upon return to Ukraine.

Most children were returned to an institution in Kirovohrad region. According to Italian media reports, at least 24 children remain in Italy. Some turned 18 and stayed, and a few even went to the USA. Many children have bonds with the Italian families caring for them. Sometimes a brother wants to return to Ukraine while his sister refuses categorically. Once, the return of 12 children was planned, but at the last moment three refused to go. Meanwhile, the Italian community where the children live consistently points out insufficient government funding for their care.

According to Ukrainian law, Ukrainian adopters or foster parents have the right to travel to the country where an orphan resides and take the child (of course, with approval from the child services). In practice, however, this is very difficult, as the understanding of safety differs for Ukrainians and foreigners.

Another example — Huliaipole special boarding school, which was evacuated to Poland. Staff actively manage a social media group sharing updates on children’s life and education. Children study in both Polish and Ukrainian schools. I have not heard of any issues with this institution from local or Ukrainian authorities.

Another institution from Zaporizhzhia ended up in a scandal in Poland. The Zaporizhzhia Regional Rehabilitation Center (formerly a shelter) was accused by Polish volunteers of abuses by its director. The director denies all allegations.

A bit about the largest institution in Zaporizhzhia region — the “Sonechko” children’s home. It was evacuated to Lviv region, but even here there were controversies. Most staff remained in Zaporizhzhia and continued to receive salaries for several years, practically without working with children. More than 200 million hryvnias were spent on this. Ultimately, the home was officially liquidated, no one was blamed, because formally no rules were violated. Draw your own conclusions.

I believe there are no universal solutions here. First comes safety and the right to life, and only then can an individual approach, familiarization with each child’s circumstances, and careful consideration show the best course of action. For some, this may mean returning to Ukraine; for others, staying temporarily or permanently in the host country.

The most concerning are calls to return children “to preserve the nation’s gene pool” or to improve demographics. This clearly has nothing to do with the child’s interests.

In the photo — last images of Molochansk orphanage three days before the invasion (from social media).

P.S. The Happy Child charitable foundation currently supports foster families and family-type homes evacuated from Zaporizhzhia region to other parts of Ukraine. We are also ready to support emergency and medical needs of children from evacuated orphanages and shelters in Zaporizhzhia region.

Anyone can support our “Happy Home” project: