Activists placed 20,000 teddy bears on a fence near the US Capitol to represent Ukrainian children Kyiv says were taken by Russian forces. US lawmakers and campaigners at the event demanded immediate returns under the plea "Bring Them Home," calling the reported abductions potential war crimes and attempts to erase Ukrainian identity. Kyiv says about 2,000 children have been returned but thousands remain missing; the US announced a $25 million repatriation fund and the ICC issued 2023 arrest warrants related to unlawful deportation.
20,000 Teddy Bears Line Fence Near US Capitol to Symbolize Ukrainian Children Kyiv Says Were Taken
A fence on the National Mall in Washington was adorned with 20,000 stuffed teddy bears to represent Ukrainian children abducted by Russia since the start of the war (SAUL LOEB)(SAUL LOEB/AFP/AFP)
A fence a short distance from the US Capitol was draped with 20,000 teddy bears to symbolize Ukrainian children that Kyiv says were abducted by Russian forces during the ongoing war.
Activists, Lawmakers Gather to Demand Returns
The installation served as the backdrop for a somber gathering of activists and US lawmakers who pressed for the immediate return of those children under the rallying cry: "Bring Them Home." The event was organized by Razom for Ukraine in partnership with the American Coalition for Ukraine.
Voices at the Display
Twenty-four-year-old activist Mariia Hlyten spoke at the display, urging urgent diplomatic and humanitarian action.
"When you see the scale... you then start to understand how terrifying this is, and that all this time, while we are waiting for some kind of negotiations, there is children's life at stake," Hlyten said. "They have to be returned immediately, as soon as possible."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Jamie Raskin described the alleged abductions as part of a broader campaign to erase Ukrainian identity. Blumenthal warned that the reported practice of changing names and re-educating children aims to strip them of language, religion and culture. Raskin called those actions "a blatant violation" of human rights and international law and said they could amount to war crimes or even genocide if proven intentional.
Attendee Arkady Dolina, draped in a blue-and-yellow flag, described widespread kidnappings from occupied territories since the 2022 invasion. Moscow denies the allegations.
International Response and Numbers
Kyiv has reported that about 2,000 children were returned from Russia and Russian-occupied areas, while saying thousands more remain unaccounted for. In March, the United States announced a $25 million fund to aid efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children. In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant related to the unlawful deportation of children, naming Russian President Vladimir Putin and a children's rights commissioner.
The claims from Kyiv include allegations that many children have been indoctrinated, pressured to accept Russian citizenship and stripped of their Ukrainian identity — assertions backed by testimony from Ukrainians who escaped occupation. Organizers and lawmakers used the teddy-bear display to keep public attention on the issue and to urge diplomatic, legal and humanitarian action to reunite children with their families.
Note: Moscow denies the allegations of systematic abductions and forced transfers.
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