The US State Department has some explaining to do after refusing to participate in the Senate hearing: “The Abduction of Ukrainian Children by the Russian Federation.” The hearing revealed Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian kids with unimaginable torture and terror.
The State Department’s no-show at the hearing messages contempt for the lives of children everywhere – and not just Ukraine. This, coupled with a US peace plan that forgives war crimes against children, would permanently change the world order by stripping “special protected status” of noncombatant children afforded under International law.
Tensions mounted as hearing chair Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) revealed that 19,546 Ukrainian children have been forcibly abducted by Russia. Many are trafficked to 210 reeducation camps in Russia. The purpose of these brainwashing factories is to indoctrinate them into a radical Russian or militaristic ideology.
Senator Richard Blumental (D-CT) testified that Russia’s child kidnapping constitutes genocide and war crimes. Throughout the hearing, there was unanimous emphasis that any peace plan must account for all stolen Ukrainian children. The fact that both the State Department and the Russian ambassador in Washington spurned the hearing shows contempt for the hearing’s ostensible purpose. Even worse, it lends the appearance that Washington officials are complicitly aligned with Russia’s kidnapping/genocide scheme.
This begs the question of whether the Trump administration has become a quasi-accomplice to Russia. Congress has an obligation to rein in this increasing alignment with Moscow since most Americans still support Ukraine and everyone (except Russia) opposes genocide against children.
Efforts by First Lady Melania Trump to help return these children is a moot issue. During the August Peace Summit in Alaska, Russian President Putin received her written plea to return the children. Putin spurned Melania Trump after returning just eight children.
There are also alarming National Security concerns. School children indoctrinated in these camps are brainwashed with false narratives that America and “the West” are evil future enemies. They learn how to throw grenades and assemble weapons. When they turn 18 (or earlier) Russia forces them to fight on the front lines against their beloved Ukraine.
Mykola Kuleba, founder of “Save Ukraine,” relayed the story of one youngster anguished after “watching his friend die.” Russian soldiers ripped out his teeth and eyelids, and amputated his finger and tortured him to death simply because he allegedly received an email from a Ukrainian soldier.
America’s ongoing appeasement towards Russia is an abomination. This must end immediately or the future of America may be irreparably harmed
Senator Amy Kloubacher (D-MN) revealed how a young teenage girl, Veronica, was forcibly confined and suffered trauma during periods of isolation.
Senator Blumenthal relayed the story of 9-year-old Ilia whose mother was killed in a missile strike. At some point, the Russians transferred him to a hospital where he underwent surgery without anesthesia for simply saying “Glory to Ukraine”.
In addition to 19,546 kidnapping cases, another 1.6 million Ukrainian kids are trapped inside Russian-occupied Ukraine. These enslaved kids suffer psychological trauma as their name, identity and Ukrainian culture is forcibly and systematically replaced with a Russian militaristic culture.
America’s ongoing appeasement towards Russia, which is committing industrial scale genocide against children – the most vulnerable segment of society – is an abomination. This must end immediately or the future of humanity and America may be irreparably harmed.
A better alternative peace plan would involve Tomahawk missiles being sent to Ukraine with restrictions. However, if Russia continues strikes against civilian infrastructure or continues to abduct Ukrainian children, the commander-in-chief will automatically remove those restrictions. At the same time, Congress should pass a pending bill that punishes countries doing business with Russia and designate Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism. This will stop Russia’s genocide against children.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.