State department restores funding for Yale's Ukraine child probe
The U.S. State Department has temporarily reinstated funding for the Yale University team documenting the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. This decision enables the team to hand over evidence to Europol.
What do you need to know?
- The U.S. State Department reinstated the grant for Yale University's team, which is documenting the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
- The grant has been restored for six weeks, allowing researchers to transfer the collected evidence to Europol.
- The decision to restore the grant resulted from lobbying by Democrats, some Republicans, and church activists.
The State Department reversed its decision
Initially, the funding contract for the team was canceled as part of cutting unnecessary expenses—an initiative by Elon Musk’s DOGE team. However, after lobbying from Democrats, some Republicans, and evangelical activists, the decision was reversed.
Further plans of Yale University researchers
With the restored grant, researchers from Yale University's Conflict Observatory can now hand over the amassed evidence to Europol. They have identified the identities and locations of thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russians. Their work also supports other investigations into Russian war crimes, including the International Criminal Court's allegations against Vladimir Putin. Once the State Department contract ends, the researchers hope to secure financial support from European countries.
What does this decision mean for Ukraine?
The mass deportation of Ukrainian children and their Russification are key issues in negotiations to end the war. After discussions with the Ukrainian delegation in Riyadh, the United States committed to helping Ukraine recover its children. Restoring the grant for the Yale team is a significant step in documenting these actions and supporting Ukraine in its efforts to bring the children home.
