US Congress pushes for tougher probe into abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia

Political pressure is intensifying in the United States to expand investigations into the thousands of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia during the war, with lawmakers urging stronger action from the administration of President Donald Trump.

According to French publication Intelligence Online, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is facing growing calls from Congress to lead and intensify the U.S. Department of State response to the issue.

The report said efforts by US intelligence agencies to document the abuses have been hindered by a lack of engagement from United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who reportedly dismantled a special coordination mechanism in 2025 tasked with tracking such cases.

The United States Congress is now increasing scrutiny. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to allocate around $15 million to collect and analyse data on Ukrainian children believed to have been taken from occupied territories. Ukraine estimates that at least 20,000 children have been affected since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Lawmakers are also demanding a detailed report from Rubio on the State Department’s activities, including an assessment of Belarus’s possible involvement. Previous US diplomatic efforts had largely focused on adoption-related issues involving Ukrainian children in the United States rather than documenting alleged deportations.

In late March, the State Department announced up to $25 million in funding for programmes aimed at identifying and returning displaced children.

Congress has also called for the restoration of a dedicated intelligence coordination post previously responsible for documenting alleged Russian violations. Although legislation passed in December 2025 extended the post’s mandate through 2028 and broadened its authority, lawmakers say the structure has yet to be fully reinstated.

By Sabina Mammadli