U.S. project termination hinders investigation of war crimes

A new report suggests that the United States may be unintentionally assisting Russian President Vladimir Putin in hiding war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children. The report indicates that a U.S.-funded project, previously managed by Yale University, was recently terminated. This project included a critical database documenting the deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. The project was cut by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. As a result, researchers lost access to vital information, such as satellite images and biometric data covering around 35,000 Ukrainian children. This loss means that researchers can no longer provide evidence for ongoing criminal cases, including those against Putin. A group of lawmakers, including Rep. Greg Landsman from Ohio, expressed concern in a letter addressed to top officials. They claimed that the data may have been permanently deleted. If true, they warned that this loss could have serious consequences for justice regarding these alleged war crimes. One researcher told the Washington Post that the situation raises doubts about three years of work worth $26 million, funded by taxpayer money. This project aimed to gather evidence of war crimes involving children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that any peace agreement with Russia must include the return of abducted children and accountability for those responsible. The State Department did not provide comments on whether the data has been lost or compromised. On the same day, President Trump spoke to Putin about a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.