On November 18, the Wisconsin State Senate voted unanimously to pass Joint Resolution 103, with voice vote from the 33 Senators. 

This marks the first time such a resolution has been introduced at the state level in the United States. While a similar resolution has passed at the federal level, Wisconsin is the first state to take action.

The initiative was presented to Wisconsin lawmakers in partnership by Nova Ukraine, a leading U.S.-based nonprofit supporting Ukraine, together with Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc. and with the support of Friends of Ukraine–Madison. 

Senator Andre Jacque, one of the authors of the resolution, stressed the urgency of addressing these violations.

“The systematic abduction and forced adoption of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation is a direct violation of international law, a moral outrage and a textbook act of genocide. Wisconsin will not stay silent in the face of such cruelty. We stand with the people of Ukraine, and we demand accountability for these crimes against humanity and justice for these children separated from their families, their cultural identity, and their country.”

The resolution will now move to the Wisconsin State Assembly for consideration. Even with the next step ahead, the Senate’s decision represents a significant milestone for everyone working to ensure the world does not overlook the fate of Ukraine’s stolen children.

Representative Daniel Knodl noted that the resolution reaffirms Wisconsin’s long-standing commitment to human rights and justice.

“The abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia is an unconscionable act that demands our attention and action. Through this historic resolution, we reaffirm our state’s long-standing commitment to human rights and justice, demanding the safe return of these children to their families and an immediate end to this barbaric practice. Wisconsin stands united with Ukraine as a free and independent nation, condemning these atrocities and calling for lasting peace.”

Nova Ukraine has supported advocacy on this issue since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The organization works with Ukrainian partners and international coalitions to raise awareness among U.S. audiences about the scale and urgency of the problem.

“Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Nova Ukraine has worked to ensure the world does not forget Ukraine’s stolen children. Our advocacy has ranged from policy efforts to public awareness campaigns, including billboards near major U.S. airports demanding their return. These children are not statistics: they have names, families, and the right to come home,” said Dr. Igor Markov, Board Director at Nova Ukraine.

The resolution is also supported by Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc., a growing diaspora community engaged in humanitarian aid, cultural programming, and refugee support.

“As someone deeply involved in advocacy and community support, I believe this resolution matters. But as a mother of three, it is also deeply personal,” said Halyna Salapata, President of Wisconsin Ukrainians. “I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to not know where your child is, to have them taken from you, silenced, renamed, and raised by the people who destroyed your home. No parent should live with that fear, and no child should grow up without knowing who they are and where they come from. That’s why we brought this resolution forward. Because silence is complicity.”

Why this resolution matters

The federal government of the United States has already condemned Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children, but now individual states are joining that call. The resolution passed by the Wisconsin Senate is the first of its kind at the state level. It shows that support for Ukraine extends beyond Washington and is becoming a shared position across American society.

These decisions matter because they create both political and moral pressure: they reinforce that these crimes cannot be ignored and support international efforts to bring Ukrainian children home. They also send a signal to other states that each of them can act, even at the local level, to stand up for truth and humanity.

According to the Government of Ukraine and international monitoring organizations, more than 19,546 Ukrainian children have been abducted and forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-occupied territories. The real number may be significantly higher. Children are often separated from their families, placed in Russian institutions, or adopted by Russian families under changed identities.