U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, Katie Britt, and Amy Klobuchar have introduced new legislation that would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism if it does not return more than 19,000 Ukrainian children reportedly taken during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Graham and Blumenthal initially discussed the need for such legislation after visiting Ukraine and meeting with European officials earlier this year. Klobuchar has also previously introduced a resolution focused on the return of these children.
The proposed Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act aims to increase pressure on Russia to secure both peace and the safe return of Ukrainian children.
“Today, we remember the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. But 24 years later, I think our nation has forgotten a lesson we learned from 9/11, which is what happens overseas could matter to us. Ukraine estimates that Russia has kidnapped over 19,000 Ukrainian children. Russia is attempting to wipe the Ukrainian identity from these kids and in some cases, even training the teenagers to fight for Russia against Ukraine. The United States must be a moral leader and make it clear to the entire world that this is unacceptable. Our legislation gives Russia a choice. If they do not want to become a state sponsor of terrorism, then they should return the Ukrainian children. If not, Russia will reap the consequences of their actions and become even more economically toxic,” said Senator Graham.
“Vladimir Putin believes that there is no Ukraine. What he is seeking to do by kidnapping these Ukrainian children is to erase Ukraine from the face of the earth. And what we’re doing here is calling Russia what it is under Vladimir Putin’s leadership: a state sponsor of terrorism. It will continue to be a state sponsor of terrorism until it returns those children. This bill brands Russia a member of an exclusive pariah club,” said Senator Blumenthal.
“As a mom of two young children, I cannot imagine what it’s like to have your child taken from you. This is an issue that must be elevated, and I believe the United States must lead in designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism if they do not return every single kidnapped Ukrainian child. It’s clear that Putin will never do the right thing without being forced. Now is the time to make that happen and reunite parents with their precious children,” said Senator Britt.
“We must continue to help Ukraine track these kidnapped Ukrainian children so we know who has been taken and, to the best of our ability, where they are so they can be quickly reunited with their families,” said Senator Klobuchar. “We have made very clear that these kids must be returned before any negotiated end to the war, because we can’t allow incentives for combatants in war to capture and kidnap kids.”
Ukraine reports at least 19,546 children have been abducted or displaced since February 2022 during hostilities with Russian forces; ages range from infants up through age seventeen. The United Kingdom asserts that many affected children have faced indoctrination through pro-Russian curricula or military training programs after being removed from their homes.
In addition, official figures estimate at least 648 Ukrainian minors killed and over 2,000 wounded since February 2022 due to conflict-related violence.
Under terms outlined by this bill, sixty days after its passage into law would require certification by the Secretary of State confirming all affected youth are safely returned home or fully reintegrated into society in Ukraine; failure would trigger automatic designation of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S law—a list currently limited only to Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Syria.
