US funding boost aids Yale's quest to trace deported Ukrainian kids

• The US State Department reinstated the grant for the team from Yale University, which is documenting the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
• The grant was reinstated for six weeks, allowing researchers to hand over the gathered evidence to Europol.
• The decision to reinstate the grant was the result of lobbying by Democrats, some Republicans, and church activists.

Originally, the funding contract for the team was cancelled 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.

Thanks to the reinstated grant, the research team from Yale University's Conflict Observatory will be able to hand over the gathered evidence to Europol. The researchers have identified the identities and locations of thousands of Ukrainian children taken by Russians. Their work also supports other investigations into Russian war crimes, including the International Criminal Court's allegations against Vladimir Putin. After the contract with the State Department concludes, the researchers hope that European countries will provide financial support.

The mass deportation of Ukrainian children and their Russification is one of the key topics in negotiations to end the war. The United States, after talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Riyadh, committed to helping Ukraine with the return of children to the country. The decision to reinstate the grant for the Yale team is a significant step in documenting these actions and supporting Ukraine in its efforts to recover the children.