Chuck Grassley Demands Return of Abducted Ukrainian Children from Russia

Abduction and Indoctrination of Ukrainian Children

• 📌 Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab estimates over 35,000 abducted Ukrainian kids are being held by Russia.
• 💔 Rescued children share harrowing accounts of Russian indoctrination, illegal militarization, and brutal punishment for maintaining their Ukrainian identity.

Personal Testimonies of Abducted Children

• 🗣️ A 12-year-old named Cander from Mariupol recounted Russians telling her that her mother no longer needed her and she would be given to a foster family.
• 😨 A 13-year-old named RTM from Kkefe described being afraid to escape through a backyard, fearing they would be shot, and being forced into a truck.

Experiences in Russian "Rehabilitation" Programs

• 🎪 Six children reported being sent to the occupied Crimean Peninsula for a "rehabilitation program" in September and October 2022.
• 🚫 They faced mockery based on their nationality, and children expressing pro-Ukrainian sentiments were locked in basements or isolation cells.
• 🇷🇺 Children were forbidden from speaking Ukrainian, forced to listen to the Russian national anthem, learn Russian patriotic songs, and perform hard labor.
• 🤥 For at least six months, Russian authorities lied to the children, telling them their parents had abandoned them and Ukraine no longer needed them.

Call for Prioritized Return and Peace

• 🕊️ Senator Chuck Grassley emphasizes that children should not be bargaining chips in geopolitical negotiations.
• 💌 He appreciated First Lady Melania Trump's letter urging Putin to release the children and noted President Zelensky's mention of these letters.
• ✅ The safe return of these children must be prioritized before any final peace agreement is reached.