Overview
- Sens. Lindsey Graham and Brian Schatz are working to convene a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Russia’s removal of Ukrainian children and plan to invite Ambassador Alexander Darchiev, though a date has not been set and they cannot compel his appearance.
- Ukraine’s ambassador in Washington, Olha Stefanishyna, said Kyiv has begun preparing to take part in the upcoming proceedings.
- The Russian Embassy in Washington rejected participation and called the planned hearing a provocation, while claiming Ukraine’s verified list contains 339 cases and saying it is open to cooperation on family reunifications.
- Independent assessments cite at least 20,000 Ukrainian children taken during the war, figures Russia disputes, including past claims of hundreds of thousands.
- The push comes alongside existing international actions, including ICC arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, and Graham’s bipartisan bill to designate Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism unless all abducted children are returned, which advanced out of committee.