The European Union and the United Kingdom imposed new sanctions on Russian officials, institutions and entities on Monday over the deportation, forced transfer and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. [1, 2, 3]
The EU said its measures targeted 16 officials and seven centers or entities, while the UK announced a broader package against 85 people and entities. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans. [1, 2, 3]
EU officials said the measures target those responsible for systematic unlawful deportation, forced transfer, forced assimilation, indoctrination, militarized education, unlawful adoption and the removal of Ukrainian minors. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, "Stealing children is not incidental. It is a deliberate Russian policy, a calculated attack on Ukraine’s future." [2, 3, 1]
The EU and allied governments said about 20,500 Ukrainian children have been deported or forcibly transferred since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. They said around 2,200 children have been returned. [1, 2]
Russia denied forcibly deporting Ukrainian children and said it was evacuating minors from combat areas and reuniting separated families. The Kremlin also said Ukraine had submitted a list of 339 children in peace talks, according to the report. [3]
The UK named the Centre for Military and Patriotic Training and Education of Youth and Yulia Sergeevna Velichko among those targeted, while EU officials said the sanctions were intended to pressure those linked to the treatment of Ukrainian minors. EU foreign ministers and Canadian officials were also hosting a meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in Brussels to step up diplomatic pressure and support tracing and verification efforts. [1, 2, 3]
