Related Article: Melania Trump appeals to Putin about abducted Ukrainian children - washingtontimes.com - Saturday, August 16, 2025, 2:58:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Target: President Vladimir Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation
Goal: To pressure the Russian government to immediately return all abducted Ukrainian children to their families and communities, and to hold accountable those responsible for these war crimes.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has led to the forced deportation and unlawful transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. These actions have been described by the International Criminal Court as war crimes, and have prompted global outrage and widespread calls for justice.
Despite claims by Russian authorities that these children were taken for humanitarian reasons, independent investigations, including those by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, have found systematic and intentional efforts to remove children from their families and communities. These forced adoptions and fosterings are acts of cultural erasure and trauma that violate the rights of children and their families under international law.
We stand with the families of Ukraine and demand the immediate return of every abducted child. The suffering of these children is among the most unbearable tragedies of this conflict. We call on the Russian government to comply with international law, cooperate with humanitarian organizations, and reunite these children with their families without delay.