WASHINGTON DC - The US Senate on Thursday introduced a measure formally condemning Russia for the systematic abduction and forced transfer of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children, an act lawmakers described as causing “devastating physical and psychological trauma.”
The amendment, proposed by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the second-ranking Democrat in the US Senate, to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, highlights the ongoing crisis since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The “Sense of Congress” resolution specifically “condemns the Russian Federation’s abduction, forcible transfer, and facilitation of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children,” according to the text of the amendment seen by Kyiv Post.
It further “implores the Russian Federation to work with the international community to ensure the return, without delay, of all forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to their families.”
International bodies and humanitarian groups have extensively documented Russia’s actions, with some reports indicating the number of abducted children could be significantly higher than the 20,000 cited in the amendment.
These children are often subjected to “re-education” programs aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity and are sometimes placed for adoption with Russian families.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in March 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, in connection with these alleged war crimes.
While the amendment (SA 2994) was ordered to lie on the table, indicating it’s been set aside for potential future consideration rather than immediate debate or a vote, its introduction underscores the growing concern within the US Congress over Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian children.
The broader defense bill, S. 2296, outlines significant funding and policy for US military and defense activities in the upcoming fiscal year, including modernization efforts, strategic capabilities, and oversight.