New Act Authorizes Use of Seized Russian Assets to Fund Recovery for Abducted Ukrainian Children

This new piece of legislation, the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, sets up a clear, US-backed framework to address the forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation. Essentially, this bill is the US government putting its money and expertise where its mouth is, committing to help Ukraine investigate these abductions, bring the children home, and ensure those responsible face consequences. It’s an international accountability bill with a major humanitarian focus.

The US is Sending the A-Team to Investigate

Section 3 and 5 detail how the US will help Ukraine’s investigative efforts. Think of it as sending specialized technical support. The Departments of Justice (DOJ), State, and Homeland Security (DHS) are now authorized to provide training and technical assistance to Ukraine’s government, specifically for investigating abduction and human trafficking cases. This includes training on using biometric identification technology (like facial recognition for tracing missing persons), analyzing open-source intelligence (think tracking digital footprints), and securing communications.

To make sure all these federal agencies aren’t tripping over each other, the National Security Council (NSC) is tasked with coordinating the whole effort, bringing together the DOJ, State, DHS, and the intelligence community. There’s also a specific provision ensuring Ukraine maintains access to US satellite imagery through the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), though the NGA Director must notify Congress 30 days in advance if that access needs to be cut off, along with a plan for an alternative source.

Healing the Trauma: Medical and Social Support

Getting the children back is only the first step; Section 4 focuses on healing. The Secretary of State and the Administrator of USAID are authorized to provide support to the Ukrainian government and local non-profits working on the ground. This funding is ear-marked for several critical needs for the returned children: medical care and psychological rehabilitation services, support services for their families, and help with reintegration into society. This includes legal aid and educational screening to ensure they can catch up in school after their ordeal. For the kids and families dealing with this massive trauma, this support means access to specialized care that might not otherwise be available.

Paying for It: Seizing Russian Assets

Perhaps the most significant financial detail is found in Section 6. This provision grants the President the authority to use seized Russian government assets currently held in the United States to fund the recovery efforts laid out in this Act. This means instead of relying solely on US taxpayer funds or traditional aid budgets, the costs of assisting the children and supporting accountability can be covered by the very government responsible for the abductions. This authority is tied to the rules set in another law, the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act, meaning the scope of how these funds are used will be determined by both pieces of legislation.

Accountability for War Crimes

Section 5 focuses on justice. The State Department, through the Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice, and the DOJ are directed to help Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office investigate and prosecute war crimes related to these abductions. This means providing training and technical assistance specifically tailored to prosecuting atrocity crimes. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury report to Congress on how US sanctions against those responsible for the abductions compare to those imposed by the UK and EU, and what the US is doing to align those sanctions for maximum impact. This is about making sure there’s nowhere for those responsible to hide their assets or themselves.