Almost 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly abducted by Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began more than four years ago, while more than 1 million Ukrainian children are living behind a new iron curtain.
The plight of Ukrainian children and youth has created a humanitarian crisis that worsens each day. Each passing month increases the risk that these children become harder to locate, harder to return, and harder to rehabilitate. Time is not on the side of these efforts. These children and their families need the support of Ukraine’s international allies and the private sector.
“This is a very painful issue for us, the issue of illegally abducted Ukrainian children,” Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska told The Dallas Morning News during a visit to the United States last month, during which she also met with President and Mrs. George W. Bush and a number of leaders in Washington. “This is a violation of international law, and Ukraine is doing absolutely everything to make sure they’re brought back home.”
The forcible transfer and militarization of children are war crimes committed by Moscow that need to be investigated, and they need to be punished. Most importantly, the free world must continue to support Ukraine to ensure that more Ukrainian children do not suffer the same fate.
Outrage over what has happened to these children has transcended the usual partisan divisions in Washington. U.S. first lady Melania Trump has successfully led efforts to help return Ukrainian children. There are active bipartisan efforts in Congress, including a recent hearing at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the House of Representatives. As Zelenska departed Washington, the State Department announced a new $25 million initiative to support the return and rehabilitation of these forcibly deported Ukrainian children.
These children are being raised in environments where Russian ideology and anti-Western narratives are deliberately instilled – shaping how the children see themselves, their families, their homeland, and the United States. Testimonies from hundreds of children rescued by Save Ukraine make it clear: Russian authorities have created a system to strip a generation of children from their identity, which often means their family as well, and mold them to serve an authoritarian state.
From a young age, these abducted and forcibly transferred children are required to participate in Russian military education camps. As older teens, many are quickly issued draft papers for the Russian military – becoming instruments of war and forced to fight against their own home country. It’s a cruel reality for many – and will continue without more support to help children and youth reconnect with their family and find a path home.
Systems are critically needed to safely identify these abducted and forcibly transferred children and youth, preserve their identities, and maintain secure lines of communication with families – often under conditions that require discretion and protection. Mechanisms that allow children to reconnect with their families over time, while ensuring their safety and anonymity, will be essential as barriers continue to grow.
Bringing these children home is only the beginning. Many of these abducted and forcibly transferred children have endured prolonged separation from their families, exposure to propaganda, and deep emotional trauma. Some have been forced to reject their identity, trained for conflict, or treated as less than equal in the places where they were taken.
This is why sustained support for healing and rehabilitation is essential. Children who return need trauma-informed care, safe environments, and consistent support to begin rebuilding trust, identity, and a sense of belonging. Just as critical is helping families reunify – ensuring that parents, relatives, and caregivers have the support they need to welcome their children home and heal together.
Americans are some of the world’s most compassionate people. They need to know what has happened to Ukraine’s children and encourage concerted actions to help bring them home.
Heather Dyer serves as CEO of Save Ukraine, a leading international organization dedicated to the return of Ukrainian children. Igor Khrestin serves as senior advisor for global policy at the George W. Bush Institute and as visiting fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University.
