The return of Ukraine’s children remains a high priority in the United States. This week, discussions on Capitol Hill and beyond have focused on pathways to reunite children with their families and ensure accountability for those responsible.
On March 25, 2026, UNWLA National Advocacy Chair Christina Tershakovec attended a Congressional Hearing “Ukraine: Abducted Children and Mechanisms for Accountability,” held by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
Hearing was focused on russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children and ongoing efforts to ensure accountability.
The bipartisan session was co-chaired by Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), with participation from Representatives Lloyd Doggett, Marcy Kaptur, Suzanne Bonamici, and Greg Landsman.
Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), with participation from Representatives Lloyd Doggett, Marcy Kaptur, Suzanne Bonamici, and Greg Landsman.
During the Hearing Representative Doggett stated unequivocally that the “forced transfer [of Ukrainian children] is not a side effect of war, it’s a war crime.” It was clear that there was broad bipartisan support for establishing an international tribunal to hold the Russian leadership, including Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, accountable.
Expert witnesses included Katya Pavlevych, Professor David Crane, Ambassador David Scheffer, and Inna Liniova. Their testimony, alongside remarks from Commission members, underscored a unified message: the forced transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation is a war crime that demands urgent international accountability.
Katya Pavlevych, Professor David Crane, Ambassador David Scheffer, and Inna Liniova
Corporate Complicity in War Crimes
A key focus of the hearing was the role of Russian state-linked corporations in facilitating these crimes. Witnesses and lawmakers responded to findings from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab identifying Gazprom and Rosneft as active participants in the system of child abduction and indoctrination.
Representative Kaptur described these companies as “ideological partners” in Russia’s crimes. Professor Crane emphasized the “need to bring complicit companies out of the shadows,” while Representative Landsman highlighted the importance of sanctions. The hearing reinforced a growing consensus that these corporations must be recognized as aiders and abettors of war crimes.
Scale of the Crisis
Kateryna Pavlevych, ACU and Razom Policy Advisor, testified that Russia’s actions constitute the largest case of abducted children since World War II. In addition to thousands of abducted children, approximately 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain under Russian occupation, where they face systematic efforts to erase their national identity.
She further noted that at least 400,000 children in occupied territories have been enrolled in militarization programs, funded in part by Russia’s energy sector. These actions, she warned, represent not only a humanitarian catastrophe but also a long-term security threat to the United States and Europe.
Pathways to Justice
Witnesses highlighted ongoing efforts to establish accountability mechanisms. Professor Crane pointed to the June 2025 agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe to create a tribunal for the crime of aggression. Ambassador Scheffer, however, noted a critical gap in international law that allows heads of state to evade prosecution while in office.
Ms. Liniova emphasized the need for comprehensive accountability for crimes committed since 2014 and called for sustained international support. She stressed that the return of abducted children must remain non-negotiable and that rehabilitation and reintegration into Ukrainian families and communities require continued funding and global coordination.
The Congressional Ukraine Caucus is calling for strengthening sanctions on russian gas and oil giants and accountability
Co-Chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus—Representatives Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Joe Wilson (SC-02)—along with Ukraine Caucus Member Representative Greg Landsman (OH-01), issued the statement in response to a new report from the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (Yale HRL), which links Russian energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft to Russia’s illegal and systemic kidnapping, detention, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children. The report comes amid recent efforts by the Administration to ease oil sanctions on these same Russian entities. The Representatives warned that easing sanctions on these entities could funnel billions back into Russia’s war machine and enable further atrocities. Lawmakers called for stronger sanctions, full accountability, and continued efforts to return abducted children, emphasizing that these actions constitute serious violations of international law and must not go unanswered.
New funding
In coordination with Congress, the Department of State is providing $25 million in new assistance to support the identification, return, and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children and youth who have been forcibly transferred or otherwise held away from their families and communities.
U.S. funding will support two key efforts: identifying and tracking forcibly transferred children to enable their return, and helping the Ukrainian government and trusted partners provide care and support for their recovery and reintegration.
In Conclusion
The hearing made it clear that accountability must go beyond individuals and include the systems and institutions that enable these crimes. It also underscored the urgent need to identify, rescue, and support the rehabilitation of Ukraine’s children. The findings presented alongside the report from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab confirm that the abduction of Ukrainian children is not an isolated violation, but a deliberate, state-driven policy supported by a network of actors, including major state corporations.
We welcome the news of new funding from the U.S. Congress and the Department of State, and believe that through collaboration with reputable and effective organizations, these resources can make a real impact in helping return Ukrainian children to their families. The United States and the international community must act decisively to ensure accountability, secure the return of every child, and prevent these crimes from continuing.
Christina Tershakovec, UNWLA National Advocacy Chair
Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Brook
