Demonstrators place 20,000 teddy bears for Ukraine’s abducted children

20,000 stuffed bears line The National Mall, each one representing a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

Roksolana Rosolovska helps align stuffed bears at an installation lining The National Mall Thursday, April 23, 2026. Each bear, 20,000 in total, represents a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

Demonstrators place some of the 20,000 teddy bears symbolizing Russian abductions of Ukraine children, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on April 23, 2026.

Olga Stefanishyna, ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S., speaks during an event showcasing an installation of stuffed bears lining a section of The National Mall Thursday, April 23, 2026. Each bear, 20,000 in total, represents a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), adds to an installation of stuffed bears lining a section of The National Mall Thursday, April 23, 2026. Each bear, 20,000 in total, represents a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

S. Han helps align stuffed bears at an installation lining The National Mall Thursday, April 23, 2026. Each bear, 20,000 in total, represents a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

Adam Cavalli helps align stuffed bears at an instalation lining The National Mall Thursday, April 23, 2026. Each bear, 20,000 in total, represents a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

Olga Stefanishyna, ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S., left, speaks with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in front of an installation of stuffed bears lining The National Mall Thursday, April 23, 2026. Each bear, 20,000 in total, represents a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

Adam Cavalli helps align stuffed bears at an instalation lining The National Mall Thursday, April 23, 2026. Each bear, 20,000 in total, represents a Ukrainian child forcibly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion on April 23, 206, in Washington, DC.

Ukraine-born Amieli Huzhevnikov, 4, holds a Ukrainian flag while standing by some of the 20,000 teddy bears symbolizing Russian abductions of Ukrainian children during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on April 23, 2026.