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A child’s agreement under threat may be a way to stay safe, not a freely chosen allegiance.

Isolation, fear, and repeated messages can shape what children believe about where they belong.

The US-Ukraine Foundation has prepared a protocol for ensuring Oleshky's children's uncoerced choice.

There’s some good news coming out of Ukraine, but it’s news with a worrisome psychological aspect. The good news is that “the biggest de-escalation since 2022” is happening in Ukraine now, according to David Arakhamia, head of President Zelensky’s party in Ukraine’s parliament. He was referring to the ceasefire that will allow residents of occupied Oleshky to leave their town and then choose whether to relocate to Russia or within Ukraine. The ceasefire extends until November 1.

For the approximately 2,000 residents of Oleshky, a town in the war zone near Kherson, this means a chance to escape hunger and shelling. Since late spring, the town has been cut off from food deliveries, and the only food that comes is delivered by drones. The roads were heavily mined, and people trying to leave faced death by either landmines or shelling. The humanitarian crisis was acute, and by some accounts, people have resorted to eating grass.

However, as part of the ceasefire agreement, evacuees will first be taken to occupied Crimea or Russia. In the mind of Ukrainian-born American psychotherapist Viktor Dlugunovych, their being sent to Russian-controlled territory is highly problematic.

Russia may say that the departures from Oleshky will be voluntary and residents will be able to choose their destination. However, as Dlugunovych points out, judging from past experience, the ability of the Ukrainians in Russian territory to choose freely is a concern. There’s also the motivation Russia may have to........

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