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New US Funding to Track and Rehabilitate Ukrainian Children Kidnapped by Russia
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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The US has announced $25 million in new assistance programming to support US President Donald Trump’s efforts to “bring about durable peace and prosperity in Ukraine,” the US Department of State announced in a press release on March 26, 2026.
This funding, announced is specifically designated to aid the return and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly relocated to Russian controlled territories. Developed in coordination with US Congress, the initiative focuses on the identification, return, and care of youth who have been held away from their families and communities since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022.
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The assistance will be divided between two primary objectives. First, the funding will support reliable partners in identifying and tracking children who have been transferred away from their homes. This tracking process is described as an essential precursor to diplomatic efforts aimed at facilitating their eventual return.
Second, the programming will provide the Ukrainian government and local partners with the resources needed to offer care and rehabilitation to children who have already been successfully returned. These services are intended to help displaced youth recover and rebuild their lives in a stable environment.
The administration emphasized that the return of these children is a critical component of securing a lasting peace. The Department of State noted that children are among the most vulnerable victims of the war and reiterated President Trump’s commitment to stopping the bloodshed.
This new financial commitment joins dozens of other US funded programs that continue to provide life saving assistance to civilians affected by the Russian invasion.
The systematic deportation of children has been a focal point of international investigations since the start of the invasion. Ukraine has officially identified thousands of children taken to Russia or occupied territories, though the actual number is believed to be much higher.
Organizations such as Bring Kids Back UA have consistently called for international pressure to force the release of names and locations. The new US funding aims to address the information gap that has allowed many children to be absorbed into foreign foster care systems and re-education programs.
