In Washington, in the Dirksen Senate building, a special hearing of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations on the topic: “The Abduction of Ukrainian Children by the Russian Federation” was held. The meeting was chaired by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, and it gathered a record number of participants - due to lack of seats, some visitors organized a separate room with a broadcast.
This was reported by the US Senate Appropriations Committee and human rights organizations.
US representatives, human rights activists and Ukrainian experts have published evidence of large-scale war crimes committed by Russia against children from the occupied territories of Ukraine.
“Putin will continue his behavior, including the abduction and abuse of children - until he is pressured and forced to stop. We must hold those responsible accountable and ensure that this stops, not only for the sake of Ukraine, but also for our own sake and the world. Russia’s intention to “reformat” an entire generation is a war plan,” said Congressman Mike McCaul.
According to Kateryna Rashevska of the Regional Center for Human Rights, there are currently 165 documented re-education camps where Ukrainian children are taken from temporarily occupied territories for militarization and Russification operations. The locations include not only Russia and Belarus, but also North Korea.
“In this camp, children were trained to destroy Japanese soldiers, and they met with Korean veterans who attacked the USS Pueblo in 1968, killing and wounding nine American soldiers. Russification and militarization cause serious trauma and violate the dignity of children. At the age of 17, boys receive summonses to join the Russian army. Their ultimate goal is clear and quite genocidal: to force Ukrainians to kill each other,” Rashevska said.
Former Ukrainian President’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, founder of “SaveUkraine US” Mykola Kuleba described the horrific realities in the occupied territories.
“The punishment for resistance is severe, and today the streets of the occupied territories are filled with Russian soldiers, and parents are afraid to let their children out because the military presence is everywhere… Children must constantly keep their phones clean, deleting messages, photos – anything that could reveal their Ukrainian identity – because one image or conversation can lead to cruel consequences. Military training is mandatory. The rescued boys and girls, who were called back into service, tell how they were taught to throw grenades, crawl through trenches, assemble and disassemble Kalashnikovs, and storm model buildings…”, Kuleba said.
During the hearing, Congressman McCaul also called for the creation of a new international security agreement to replace the ineffective Budapest Memorandum. On the same day, a bill was submitted to the US Congress to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, in particular due to the abduction of Ukrainian children.
“That is why amnesty for war criminals is not an option for us. That is why Russia must immediately and unconditionally return all abducted Ukrainian children through international and independent mechanisms. That is why we cannot recognize the occupied territories as Russian – neither de jure nor de facto – as this would undermine international law, peace and security, making us complicit in these crimes,” Rashevska said.
After the hearings, it was confirmed: the abduction of children, their Russification and preparation for war are components of Russia’s genocidal policy. The UN has already recognized these actions as forced cultural assimilation.
“This is another reason why Ukraine will never recognize the occupied territories as part of Russia – this would mean complicity in crimes,” Rashevska concluded.
In September 2025, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognized Russia’s actions as forced cultural assimilation.
Human rights activists’ calls: Russia must immediately and unconditionally return all abducted Ukrainian children; it is necessary to create an international independent repatriation mechanism; Amnesty for war criminals is unacceptable.
"I hope that this goes to the heart of every parent across our nation. Everyone. Think about your child being ripped from your arms. Think about not knowing where your kids are on their birthday, or milestones, or tragic experiences. ... Torture, having to undergo surgery with no anesthesia, having to denounce everything they know and love, terrified miles away from their own parents. Allowing this to occur as a nation, it goes against the very fabric of who we are as a country. America must do something, and you cannot be a great nation if you are unwilling to do good. We have a moral obligation to keep this going until we get every last one of these kids back into their parents arms." said Katie Britt.
The hearings marked a turning point in the global pressure on Russia for crimes against children. The next steps are expected to be the approval of new sanctions and diplomatic tightening of demands on Moscow.
Photo: screenshot of the live broadcast of the meeting
Author: Inna Mikhno