Return Ukraine’s Children
russia has illegally deported thousands of Ukrainian children — placing them in “re-education” camps, changing their identities, and putting them up for adoption. UNWLA is working in Congress and in communities across America to bring every child home and hold those responsible accountable.
Confirmed cases as of October 13, 2026 · Source: Children of War, Government of Ukraine. russian officials have claimed far higher numbers of relocated children, which cannot be independently verified.
Ask Congress to bring them home — it takes 5 minutes
H.Res. 564 and S.Res. 236 demand that all Ukrainian children abducted by russia be returned before any peace deal is finalized. Every new co-sponsor matters.
Find your officials
Look up your U.S. Representative and both Senators, then check whether they already co-sponsor the resolution.
Find your members →Call or email
Ask your Representative to co-sponsor H.Res. 564 and your Senators to co-sponsor S.Res. 236. Already signed on? Thank them.
Step-by-step instructions →Multiply your voice
Share this page, write a letter to your local paper, and invite your branch or parish to take part.
Write a letter to the editor →What to say: “I’m a constituent from [city]. Ukrainian children must be returned home from russian captivity, and those responsible must be held accountable under international law. Please co-sponsor [H.Res. 564 / S.Res. 236].”
Check co-sponsors: H.Res. 564 · S.Res. 236Pray. Advocate. Give.
This fall, Return Ukraine’s Children comes to life in communities across the country through two connected campaigns leading up to World Children’s Day.
Children Praying for Children
Our annual national campaign invites schools, parishes, and community groups to gather in prayer for the abducted children of Ukraine — and to carry that message to local media and elected officials. Any organization can take part.
Launched by UNWLA in 2024 and grown from 12 events to more than 50 events across 14 states in 2025.
Download the 2026 Toolkit Campaign page
Become the Hope for Ukraine’s Children
Through November 20, UNWLA is putting Ukraine’s children at the center of everything we do — fundraising, advocacy, community action, and education. Start or join a branch team and help support children affected by the war.
Learn more & giveOur impact so far
Representative Susan Wild recognized UNWLA members’ advocacy in her floor speech supporting H.Res. 149.
Legislation we’re tracking
H.Res. 564
Demands the return of all abducted Ukrainian children before any peace deal is finalized.
S.Res. 236
Senate companion resolution calling for the return of every abducted child as a condition of peace.
Timeline
Gold markers show milestones in UNWLA’s own advocacy.
2025 – 2026
- March 2026The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine concludes that the deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children are crimes against humanity.
- December 4, 2025The Senate holds a bipartisan, bicameral hearing, “The Abduction of Ukrainian Children by the Russian Federation.”
- October 10, 2025S. 2119 passes the Senate as an amendment to the NDAA.
- September 16, 2025Yale Humanitarian Research Lab documents russia’s network of re-education and militarization camps.
- May 31 – June 1, 2025UNWLA branches and partners hold 50+ Children Praying for Children events in 14 states.
- June 30, 2025H.Res. 564 introduced by Rep. McCaul.
- June 18, 2025S. 2119 introduced by Sens. Blumenthal and Klobuchar.
- May 20, 2025S.Res. 236 introduced by Sen. Grassley.
- March 2025Federal funding for the Yale lab’s Conflict Observatory is cut.
2024
- December 3, 2024Yale lab report documents russia’s systematic program of coerced adoption and fostering.
- June 1, 2024UNWLA launches Children Praying for Children — 12+ events nationwide and an interfaith service at Ukraine House, DC.
- March 19, 2024The House passes H.Res. 149, 390–9.
- January 31, 2024U.S. Helsinki Commission hearing on eyewitness accounts of abducted Ukrainian children and civilians.
- January 11, 2024Reuters special report: How Russian officials spirit away Ukrainian children.
2022 – 2023
- December 7, 2023At the “Freedom or Fear” conference, Ukraine’s Ombudsman reports 19,500 confirmed abductions.
- November 7, 2023House Foreign Affairs Committee advances H.Res. 149.
- April 2023The UNWLA Advocacy Committee launches Return Ukraine’s Children.
- April 17, 2023Sen. Gary Peters introduces S.Res. 158.
- March 17, 2023The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova.
- February 21, 2023Rep. Susan Wild introduces H.Res. 149.
- February 2023State Department briefing and Yale report describe the scale of the crime; the UN holds sessions on gross human rights violations (1, 2).
- 2022Reports of children illegally transferred from occupied territories emerge; by year’s end, thousands of abductions are documented.
Resources
Books, films, data, and reports for educators, advocates, and journalists.
Books
- Before They’re Gone (2025)E. A. McCarthy · Historical fiction · Adult / older teen
- Under Attack — Kidnapped from Ukraine #1 (2025)Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch · Middle school
- Standoff — Kidnapped from Ukraine #2 (2025)Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch · Middle school
- Still Alive — Kidnapped from Ukraine #3 (2026)Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch · Middle school
- You Don’t Know What War Is (2022)Yeva Skalietska · Diary · Middle school
- The Stolen Children (2023)Tetiana Fedosiuk · ICDS policy monograph · Adult
- Stolen Youth (2024)Straightforward Foundation · Anthology · High school–adult
- Gestohlene Leben (Stolen Lives) (2023)Wladimir Klitschko, Tatjana Kiel · German only · Adult
Films & documentaries
- Children in the Fire (2025)Dir. Evgeny Afineevsky · 108 min · Available for screenings: evgeny.director@gmail.com
- FRONTLINE — Children of Ukraine (2024)Dir. Paul Kenyon · 54 min · Streaming on PBS
- Ukraine’s Stolen Children (2023)Dir. Shahida Tulaganova · 60 min · Journeyman / ITV
- The War They Play (2025)Dir. Maksym Yakobchuk · The Kyiv Independent · Free on YouTube
Data & official sources
- Children of War PortalGovernment of Ukraine · Daily updates
- UN Human Rights Monitoring MissionImpact of the war and occupation on children’s rights, 2022–2024
- “I am still looking for my daughter”UN Commission of Inquiry, A/HRC/61/CRP.8 (2026)
- Yale Humanitarian Research LabOpen-source mapping of deportation and re-education sites
- UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2026Verified casualty figures and needs assessment
- UNICEF: One in five children has lost a loved oneFebruary 2025 survey
- European Parliament policy studyForcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children (2024)
- UN HRMMUOngoing field monitoring
Reports & scholarship
- ICC arrest warrantsMarch 17, 2023
- Yale: Intentional, Systematic & WidespreadCoerced adoption and fostering (2024)
- Human Rights Watch“We Must Provide a Family, Not Rebuild Orphanages” (2023)
- Amnesty Internationalrussia’s unlawful transfer of civilians (2022)
- Ioffe — Forcible Transfers of Ukrainian ChildrenUCL (2024)
- Khen — Forcible Transfer of Children as GenocideSSRN (2024)
- Institute for the Study of WarRussian Occupation Update (February 2026)
- International Crisis GroupConflict and occupation analysis
Organizations bringing children home
- Bring Kids Back UAUkraine’s national action plan for returning deported children
- Save UkraineKyiv NGO leading rescue and return missions
- Forget Us NotCivil-society coordination and U.S. legislation tracking
- WeAreAllUkrainiansGerman partner of Bring Kids Back UA
Questions or want to get involved?
Contact the UNWLA Advocacy Committee at advocacy@unwla.org
Become a memberDonate