Steven Moore organized a panel discussion on Russia’s systematic abduction of Ukrainian children

The panel, titled “Bring Ukraine's Children Home,” was held as part of Ukraine House Davos.

The Ukrainian government has identified 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been taken from Ukraine since the full‑scale invasion. Ukrainian organizations and Yale University estimate that figure at 35,000, while Russian officials claim that more than 700,000 Ukrainian children are now in Russia.

Bringing these children home is essential to any future peace agreement. More broadly, informing Americans about these Russian horrors is one of the most effective ways to build support for Ukraine in the United States.

The panel examined the reasons behind the mass abductions and how Russia uses them to justify the war to its domestic audience.

Moderated by Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, the panel featured:

• Maksym Maksymov (online), Head of Projects, Bring Kids Back UA;

• Dr. Meaghan Mobbs (online), President, Romulus T. Weatherman Foundation; Director, Center for American Safety and Security, Independent Women’s Forum; West Point graduate, former U.S. paratrooper, clinical psychologist;

• Eric Gebaide, Chairman, Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, Save Ukraine, Inc.; Managing Partner, IA Global Capital;

• Paige Farrenkopf, Children’s Team Lead, Yale Humanitarian Research Lab;

• Caolan Robertson, Irish Journalist based in Ukraine.

Speakers described Russia’s policy toward Ukrainian children as a deliberate three‑step strategy of “isolate, reprogram, deploy,” involving separation from families, forced Russification, and eventual conscription to fight against Ukraine. They also highlighted evidence of human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, and emphasized that the forcible transfer of children clearly constitutes genocide. 

Without sustained support, hundreds rescued children—and those still under occupation—face lifelong psychological trauma or even death.

The panel also premiered the trailer for the short film “Ukraine’s Stolen Children with Meaghan Mobbs” (from the producers of “A Faith Under Siege”), which follows Ukrainian families searching for their abducted children.