U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) have introduced a bill 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.
The legislation follows an official visit to Ukraine by Senators Graham and Blumenthal earlier this year, where they discussed the issue with European officials. Senator Klobuchar has also 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 in an effort to secure the children’s safe return and move toward peace.
“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 estimates at least 19,546 children have been deported or displaced since February 2022; ages range from infants up through teenagers according to various sources including reports from international organizations such as UNICEF https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-statement-children-deported-or-transferred-russian-federation-during-war-ukraine . Reports indicate many are subjected by Russian authorities or collaborators both inside occupied territories and within Russian borders https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/16/russia-ukraine-unlawful-transfer-and-deportation-children .
According to statements by UK officials cited in recent reports https://www.gov.uk/government/news/russian-forced-deportation-of-ukrainian-children , Russian authorities have imposed educational programs designed both for indoctrination into Russian culture and sometimes military training for older youth.
Ukrainian government figures also estimate at least 648 Ukrainian children killed since February 2022 with more than 2,000 wounded due directly or indirectly due conflict-related violence.
Under this legislation’s terms: within sixty days after passage into law, if U.S Secretary of State cannot certify all abducted or displaced minors are safely returned—and reintegration efforts underway—then designation procedures would begin automatically under current U.S statutes governing terrorist states; only four countries currently hold such status: Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Syria https://www.state.gov/state-sponsors-of-terrorism/ .
