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20,000 Teddy Bears Installed Near US Congress to Demand Return of Abducted Ukrainian Children
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Twenty thousand teddy bears were placed on the National Mall near the US Congress in Washington, D.C., to represent each Ukrainian child abducted by Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Olga Stefanishyna, Ambassador of Ukraine to the US, reported on April 24.
Through the “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative, Ukraine has successfully returned more than 2,000 children, but thousands are still separated from their families and homes. Stefanishyna stressed that achieving a lasting, just peace and ending the war is impossible without bringing these children back.
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The demonstration drew bipartisan and bicameral support from US lawmakers. The ambassador specifically thanked Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congressman Michael McCaul, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Congressman Jamie Raskin for joining the event and keeping a strict focus on holding Moscow accountable for the abductions.
Stefanishyna stated that “Russia and its leadership must face the absolute toughest sanctions available, ensuring they feel the real, daily consequences of their crimes.”
The demonstration in Washington aligns with recent US government funding dedicated to aiding Ukrainian children. The US Department of State had previously announced a $25 million assistance package designed to identify, return, and rehabilitate Ukrainian children forcibly relocated to Russia and temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
Developed in coordination with Congress to support US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, the initiative funds the tracking of abducted youth to facilitate their diplomatic return. It also provides the Ukrainian government and local partners with the resources needed to care for displaced children who have already been successfully brought home.
The State Department emphasized that returning these vulnerable victims is a critical component of securing a lasting peace in Ukraine.
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