$10,000 per child: The price of rescuing Ukrainian children from Russian captivity, aid groups say

Returning a single Ukrainian child abducted by Russia costs about $10,000, Ukraine House Davos said, as organizations work to bring home thousands of children taken since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The organization said around 500 children were returned to Ukraine last year, and in 2026, groups involved in the process hope to bring back at least 1,000 more. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab has identified about 35,000 Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities.

Ukraine House Davos is an annual event in Switzerland that brings global leaders together to support Ukraine. It hosts panels on humanitarian aid, security, and reconstruction.

"The most vulnerable victims"

Erik Gebaide, co-chair of the financial committee of the Save Ukraine initiative, told a panel at Ukraine House Davos that “the most vulnerable victims of what Putin started are children and their families.” 

He described early, targeted efforts to seize orphanages, as well as cases of deception, coercion, and pressure on parents to place children with Russian families, which he called a clear pattern of human trafficking.

Gebaide said international support, including funding from civil society and charitable organizations, is used to return the children. “Ten thousand dollars per child is an approximate cost to bring them home,” he said. 

He added that Jewish federations in the United States helped fund the return of nearly 200 of the 500 children rescued last year, and that about $1 million will be needed this year to rescue 1,000 children.

Yale documents "mass reprogramming"

Paige Farrenkopf, a representative of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, spoke at the same panel. She said her team documents every stage of a child’s abduction, including who was taken, when, how, and to which regions of Russia, as well as the individuals and structures involved.

“Russia is carrying out mass ‘reprogramming,’” Farrenkopf said. She said abducted children are told Ukraine does not exist and are prepared for service in the Russian army through militarized programs, pro-Kremlin courses, or integration into the Russian education system.

Reports have documented children being sent as far as North Korea for military indoctrination at camps alongside veterans who fought US forces.

Identity erasure, then militarization

Maksym Maksymov, head of projects at the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, said Russia’s actions follow a clear and consistent strategy. Children are first isolated from families, teachers, and friends, before their Ukrainian identity is dismantled.

“New documents, new guardians, and imposed Russian citizenship at age 14 are designed to cut legal and emotional ties to Ukraine,” Maksymov said. He added that the final stage is militarization, with children drawn into state programs involving drones, combat training, and military ideology.

The UN General Assembly voted 91-12 in December to demand Russia's unconditional return of all deported Ukrainian children.