The US Senate just heard horrifying new evidence about Russia’s war crimes, revealing where some abducted Ukrainian children are being taken

The US Senate just heard an absolutely horrifying piece of news regarding Russia’s systematic abduction of Ukrainian children: some of the minors taken have reportedly been forcibly transferred all the way to North Korea and placed in military-style camps. This is awful news for anyone concerned about human rights, and it immediately escalates the concerns surrounding Russia’s actions.

This deeply disturbing revelation came out during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, as reported by United 24 Media. Senators Lindsey Graham and Brian Schatz were running the session, which was set up to examine new evidence concerning the ongoing, systematic forced displacement of Ukrainian minors by the Russian Federation.

Providing the testimony was Ukrainian journalist and media adviser Ostap Yarysh. Yarysh explained that Ukrainian human rights organizations have been working hard to uncover the truth about where these missing children are being taken. The groups found documentation indicating that Russia isn’t just moving some of these minors within occupied territory; they’re actually sending them into North Korea.

What makes this finding even more alarming is that the children are reportedly being placed in facilities described as military camps

You can imagine the fear this news is causing for Ukrainian families who are already agonizing over the fate of their children. The placement of minors in military-style camps dramatically increases the concern about the sheer scale of Russia’s deportation practices and what their true, long-term intentions are for these young people.

The lawmakers at the hearing are now reviewing this documentation and testimony as part of their broader review of evidence regarding Russia’s war crimes. This forced displacement of children is one of the most serious allegations being investigated, and the new information about transfer to North Korea only raises the stakes for international intervention and accountability.

While the new evidence is devastating and difficult to process, the work to bring these children home hasn’t stopped. Earlier this year, Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska provided an update on the progress being made to reunite families. She spoke at a high-level meeting in Paris for the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, which is spearheaded by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president, however, has more things to worry about, with his lead negotiator dragged into a massive anti-corruption probe.

Zelenska confirmed that, thanks to these continued efforts, Ukraine has successfully returned 1,859 children who were abducted by Russia. While that number is a testament to the dedication of those working on the ground, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the total number of minors believed to have been taken. The continued efforts by the Senate and international bodies highlight the severity of Russia’s actions.

Lawmakers are definitely reviewing all this documentation to figure out the best way to pressure Russia and ensure justice for these horrific war crimes. An EU official recently warned that any peace plan absolutely cannot let Russian forces off the hook for the war crimes they’ve committed.