US Senate Holds Hearing on Russia’s Abduction of Ukrainian Children: Testimonies Reveal Systematic Militarization and Erasure of Identity
On December 3, the United States Senate held a high-level hearing titled “Russia’s Abduction of Ukrainian Children”, where senators, diplomats, and human rights experts emphasized that the forced transfer of Ukrainian minors is part of Russia’s state policy. Ukrainian representatives presented evidence showing the scale and deliberate nature of the crime.
Source: Embassy of Ukraine in the USA
US lawmakers demand decisive action
The hearing, chaired by Senator Lindsey Graham, brought together key members of both chambers of Congress — Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, Michael McCaul, and Brian Fitzpatrick. They underscored that the mass deportation of Ukrainian children constitutes a grave violation of international law and is part of a broader Kremlin strategy aimed at destroying Ukrainian identity.
Ukrainian witnesses: “This is a state policy to erase Ukraine’s future”
Testimony was delivered by:
• Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States
• Mykola Kuleba, founder of Save Ukraine
• Representatives of Bring Kids Back UA and the Regional Center for Human Rights
• Analysts from Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab
A central moment came from Mykola Kuleba, who spoke not only as an advocate, but as a person who meets abducted children the moment they return home:
“This week, I addressed the US Senate to tell the truth about one of the most brutal crimes of this war — Russia’s abduction and militarization of Ukrainian children.”
He noted that Save Ukraine’s underground rescue network has already brought home more than 1,000 children, yet hundreds of thousands remain trapped behind Russia’s new “Iron Curtain.”
Children subjected to pressure, militarization, and propaganda
Kuleba described Russia’s systematic efforts to reshape children’s identity:
“They forced Ukrainian children to abandon their language, change their names and citizenship, and taught them that the US and NATO were their enemies.”
Many children were placed in militarized camps where they learned to handle weapons and perform tactical maneuvers. Some witnessed torture.
“Every child we rescue has lost a part of their childhood,”
— Kuleba said.
Experts confirmed that these practices match patterns of intentional re-engineering of a population’s identity, fitting multiple criteria of genocide under international law.
No just peace is possible without returning the children
All participants stressed that the issue of abducted Ukrainian children must be central to peace negotiations.
Kuleba appealed directly to US lawmakers:
“I asked the Senate to help Ukraine demand full lists of abducted children from Russia — and the return of every one of them. As long as even one child remains in captivity, our work is not done.”
Call to Congress: designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism
Ambassador Markarova and members of Congress urged the Senate and House to advance legislation that would:
• designate Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism
• set a deadline for the return of abducted children
• impose punitive measures if Russia fails to comply
Washington emphasized that US leadership is essential to forcing the Kremlin to end unlawful practices.
The Senate hearing became one of the most significant international signals regarding Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children. Testimonies made clear that these crimes are not isolated incidents but elements of a deliberate state strategy — and that no just peace is possible until every Ukrainian child is brought home.
