US ends investigation into alleged Russian 'kidnapping' of Ukrainian children, according to reports
Moscow has consistently stated that the evacuation of minors from conflict zones is aimed at ensuring their safety. This week, several media outlets reported that the US government has cut funding for a project investigating purported Russian...
TroibNews 
Moscow has consistently stated that the evacuation of minors from conflict zones is aimed at ensuring their safety.
This week, several media outlets reported that the US government has cut funding for a project investigating purported Russian abductions of Ukrainian children, citing sources.
Ukrainian and Western officials have frequently accused Moscow of “kidnapping” Ukrainian minors. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over alleged “unlawful deportations.” In response, Russia has dismissed these accusations as politically driven, asserting that the evacuation of children from conflict zones is done for their protection.
Reports from iPaper and The New Republic indicate that funding for the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, which was responsible for identifying and tracking Ukrainian minors allegedly taken to Russia, has been discontinued. This project had been sharing its findings with Ukrainian authorities and Europol.
Moreover, it is reported that the funding cut came from instructions issued by Elon Musk’s US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This department has been supporting President Donald Trump’s initiative aimed at addressing what he describes as wasteful government spending, bureaucracy, and corruption.
A spokesperson for Yale confirmed the funding termination, stating that HRL researchers were “notified recently that government funding for their work on the war in Ukraine has been discontinued.” The spokesperson added that Yale was “not in a position” to comment further on the situation. Requests for comments from the White House, State Department, and DOGE have not received responses.
These reports have emerged alongside renewed allegations from Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN, Yury Vitrenko, during an OSCE meeting on Thursday. He claimed that Russia has “illegally placed” over 19,000 Ukrainian children within its territory and is “forcibly” Russifying them. Vitrenko noted that 1,227 displaced children had been returned to Ukraine, but accused Moscow of obstructing this process.
Russian authorities have consistently communicated their efforts to reunite displaced Ukrainian children with their families. Recently, Lvova-Belova announced that 17 children from 11 families had been reunited with relatives in Russia, while an additional 95 were reunited with relatives in Ukraine and other countries through a Qatar-mediated agreement reached last year.
She has characterized Kiev’s allegations of abductions as a “systemic myth” and expressed her commitment to continue facilitating family reunifications. Russian officials have emphasized that displaced children are not being adopted in Russia but are placed under temporary guardianship or foster care until they can safely return to their families.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
This week, several media outlets reported that the US government has cut funding for a project investigating purported Russian abductions of Ukrainian children, citing sources.
Ukrainian and Western officials have frequently accused Moscow of “kidnapping” Ukrainian minors. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over alleged “unlawful deportations.” In response, Russia has dismissed these accusations as politically driven, asserting that the evacuation of children from conflict zones is done for their protection.
Reports from iPaper and The New Republic indicate that funding for the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, which was responsible for identifying and tracking Ukrainian minors allegedly taken to Russia, has been discontinued. This project had been sharing its findings with Ukrainian authorities and Europol.
Moreover, it is reported that the funding cut came from instructions issued by Elon Musk’s US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This department has been supporting President Donald Trump’s initiative aimed at addressing what he describes as wasteful government spending, bureaucracy, and corruption.
A spokesperson for Yale confirmed the funding termination, stating that HRL researchers were “notified recently that government funding for their work on the war in Ukraine has been discontinued.” The spokesperson added that Yale was “not in a position” to comment further on the situation. Requests for comments from the White House, State Department, and DOGE have not received responses.
These reports have emerged alongside renewed allegations from Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN, Yury Vitrenko, during an OSCE meeting on Thursday. He claimed that Russia has “illegally placed” over 19,000 Ukrainian children within its territory and is “forcibly” Russifying them. Vitrenko noted that 1,227 displaced children had been returned to Ukraine, but accused Moscow of obstructing this process.
Russian authorities have consistently communicated their efforts to reunite displaced Ukrainian children with their families. Recently, Lvova-Belova announced that 17 children from 11 families had been reunited with relatives in Russia, while an additional 95 were reunited with relatives in Ukraine and other countries through a Qatar-mediated agreement reached last year.
She has characterized Kiev’s allegations of abductions as a “systemic myth” and expressed her commitment to continue facilitating family reunifications. Russian officials have emphasized that displaced children are not being adopted in Russia but are placed under temporary guardianship or foster care until they can safely return to their families.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
