Recently, a delegation from Save Ukraine returned from a two-week working visit to the United States. The delegation included the head of the foundation, Mykola Kuleba, organization experts, and five children who had been forcibly displaced to Russia and were brought back to Ukraine by us.

During hearings at the Helsinki Commission in the U.S. Congress, the children testified about the crimes committed by Russians against Ukrainian kids. They also joined the National Gathering in Washington, where they prayed alongside senators, congressmen, and church leaders for America, other nations, and all Ukrainian children, especially those who were abducted and are still in deportation. Each child had their own prayer. At the same event, Mykola Kuleba presented a modern Ukrainian Bible by Roman Turkonyak to Speaker Michael Johnson. The Bible’s cover was painted by children who were forcibly transferred by Russians and then returned home.

During events at the Ukrainian House, the children shared their stories with American educators, activists, community leaders, and government officials. They talked about how, despite psychological pressure from Russians, they kept believing in Ukraine and did everything they could to return home. Following this meeting, the children participated in a charity concert and sang the song “Home” alongside the Ukrainian performer Kolia Serga.

Mykola Kuleba took part in a panel discussion at Georgetown University on the topic of “War against Ukrainian children”, where he and Dmytro Lubinets, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, informed American partners about how our government and non-governmental organizations collaborate to rescue deported Ukrainian children.

Additionally, our delegation attended hearings at the Atlantic Council, the National Prayer Breakfast, and the Ukrainian Caucus in the U.S. Congress. We also met with representatives of USAID and UNICEF, spoke at an event at Columbia University, and participated in the Gala evening of Ukrainian Week at the Museum of the Bible. Our bilateral meetings with politicians, senators, and congressmen from the USA and Canada were fruitful. They aimed to draw international attention to the crimes against humanity and acts of genocide committed by Russian occupiers. As well as to engage in solving problems related to the war and developing plans and strategies for providing long-term support to Ukraine and Ukrainian children directly.

We sincerely thank Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the USA, for her assistance in this mission and for defending the interests of the abducted children and Ukraine’s interests in the USA.