A massive “Bring Kids Back” conference was held in Los Angeles to draw attention to the issue of the forced removal of Ukrainian children by Russia. The event featured a famous installation of 20,000 teddy bears at Gloria Molina Grand Park, each symbolizing a Ukrainian child who had been abducted since the start of the full-scale invasion.
This was reported by the event organizers.
The installation stretched approximately 230 feet (76 m) in length and reached eight feet (2.4 m) in height. The structure was inscribed with the words: “Putin abducted 20,000 Ukrainian children. Bring Kids Back.” The event brought together local activists, representatives of civic and charitable organizations, religious and civic leaders, and supporters of Ukraine.
“Putin is a war criminal who is committing atrocities, and we have a moral obligation to condemn these crimes without reservation and to demand the immediate return of these children. That is why I was proud to support the bipartisan passage of the Ukraine Support Act by the House of Representatives earlier this month, which imposes sanctions on Russia for the abduction of innocent Ukrainian children. As a mother, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain these families are experiencing every day. I will not stop fighting until every Ukrainian child is reunited with their loved ones and safely returned home,” said Congresswoman Sidney Kamlager-Daw in a statement released at the event.
Shield of Freedom Advisory Board Member Peter Larr said in his speech:
“The citizens of the United States have tremendous influence and leverage over the aggressor. With your votes, your elected officials can help end this horror much sooner than the aggressors would like, by increasing pressure on the Russian economy and formally demanding the return of the children. Ukrainian children should be with their families, they deserve to return home, and the United States can help stop Russia’s aggression through Congressional action.”
Razom for Ukraine Deputy Advocacy Director Theo Menon also addressed the attendees. He said:
“Let this installation be more than a symbol. Let it be a call to action – for our communities, for our elected leaders, and for each of us.”
He emphasized the connection between economic pressure on Russia and the humanitarian consequences of the war:
“Measures like oil sanctions, energy restrictions, or financial pressure may seem far removed from such an installation. They may sound technical. They may seem disconnected from the human cost of this war. But they are directly related. Russia’s war machine is funded by revenues, and it is these revenues that fuel the system responsible for bombing cities, destroying families, and kidnapping children.”
The installation was created by Razom for Ukraine in partnership with the American Coalition for Ukraine. It was first presented in Washington during the American Coalition for Ukraine summit in April 2026. Los Angeles became the second city to host the exhibition with the support of Globe 4 Ukraine and Shield of Freedom. In the future, the exhibition is to continue its tour of cities in the United States.
The action was designed to remind us of Ukrainian children who were forcibly displaced or deported from the occupied territories. The organizers call on American society, lawmakers, and the international community to make the return of children a priority.
Background
According to the UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict, released on 17 June, 38,558 serious violations of children’s rights were recorded in conflict zones in 2025, the highest number ever recorded. The violations include killings, maiming, abductions, sexual violence, recruitment of children into armed groups, attacks on schools and hospitals, and obstruction of humanitarian assistance. The report states that 5,129 cases of child abductions were confirmed in 2025 in various conflicts around the world.
Photo: Craig Gresbrink
Author: Danylo Pievchev