FDD Action Calls on Congress to Pass the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act

Washington, D.C. — Following today’s news that First Lady Melania Trump’s diplomatic efforts led to seven more Ukrainian children being reunited with their families, FDD Action renewed its call on Congress to include the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act (S. 2119 / H.R. 5962) in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.

“We commend First Lady Melania Trump for her unwavering dedication to the safe return of Ukrainian children to their families,” said Daniel Vaynshteyn, Associate Director for Government Relations at FDD Action. “Her personal engagement and humanitarian support have brought hope to families torn apart by Russia’s systematic abduction campaign. To continue building on these positive efforts, it is vital that Congress include the bipartisan Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act in the final NDAA. This bill will ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to reunite the more than 19,000 children Russia has abducted.”

FDD Action also recognized the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs for holding a hearing on the abduction of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation.

“We are grateful to Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Schatz for highlighting this humanitarian crisis,” Vaynshteyn continued. “Yesterday’s hearing demonstrated the bipartisan recognition that the abduction and recovery of Ukrainian children must be urgently addressed in negotiations. We encourage Congress to follow up on this hearing with decisive legislative action. History will judge whether we acted to protect the innocent and uphold international law or allowed political considerations to delay justice.”

A Crisis Demanding Congressional Action

Russia’s war crimes against Ukrainian children: Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has sought to erase Ukrainian identity by kidnapping more than 19,000 Ukrainian children, forcibly deporting many to Russia and placing them in re-education programs to instill loyalty to Moscow. Supporting Ukraine’s recovery of abducted children reflects American values and shows that the United States does not tolerate genocide or the use of children as a weapon of war. The systematic nature of Russia’s actions, the vulnerability of the victims, and the international implications demand immediate legislative action.

The U.S. recognizes the severity of Russia’s actions: In 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated senior Russian officials for their complicity in these activities. On March 19, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a bipartisan resolution by a vote of 390 members, declaring that the abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine amounts to genocide under the Genocide Convention. Wednesday’s Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, The Abduction of Ukrainian Children by the Russian Federation, marked a key moment of bipartisan recognition.

The Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act

The bipartisan Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), passed the Senate as part of the NDAA for FY 2026 (Sec. 1266), and Congress should ensure it is included in the final NDAA conference report. It paves the way for lasting progress by providing the institutional support and resources necessary. A bipartisan companion bill (H.R. 5962) has been introduced in the House of Representatives, led by Representatives Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Specifically, the legislation would:

• Enhance investigation and tracking by increasing U.S. support for Ukraine’s efforts to document, investigate, and track abducted children through intelligence sharing, technical assistance, and coordination with international partners.
• Support rehabilitation and reintegration by providing psychological, medical, and social assistance to returned children and their families, recognizing the severe trauma they have experienced.
• Ensure justice and accountability by supporting efforts to hold perpetrators responsible through international tribunals, sanctions, diplomacy, and coordinated allied action.
• Create transparency by requiring regular reporting to Congress on U.S. efforts and progress in recovering abducted children, ensuring sustained attention and resources for this crisis.

Additional Resources

Policy Alert: Russia’s Mass Abduction of Ukrainian Children Is a War Crime That Cannot Be Ignored (FDD Action | December 2, 2025)

Russia Continues Deadly Attacks on Ukraine Ahead of Witkoff Visit as Zelenskyy Looks to European Allies (FDD Flash Brief | December 1, 2025)

Russia is turning deported Ukrainian children into bargaining chips (Karolina Hird | Institute for the Study of War | November 5, 2025)

Saving lives in Ukraine will require Trump to play the strong cards at his disposal (Peter Doran and Dmitriy Shapiro | New York Post | October 21, 2025)

Russia still holds an untold number of abducted Ukrainian children (Ivana Stradner | The Hill | June 25, 2025)