EU sanctions 10 people, 17 entities over alleged deportation of Ukrainian children

The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and 17 entities over what it described as the systematic unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-occupied territories, as well as their alleged forced assimilation through indoctrination and militarised education.

The latest listings include senior officials, children’s camps and sports centres as well as organisations that the EU says played a role in transferring Ukrainian children or exposing them to programmes aimed at integrating them into Russian cultural and national identity.

Officials targeted

Among those sanctioned is Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, whom the EU accused of facilitating the transfer of Ukrainian children to camps in his region.

The list also includes education officials in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, the sports and tourism minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and heads of children’s camps and schools. The EU accused them of contributing to ideological indoctrination and the assimilation of Ukrainian children.

Camps on list

The Moscow City Tourism Committee and two Russian companies operating in children’s recreation, tourism and entertainment were among the entities sanctioned. According to the EU, they organised programmes centred on Russian history, war commemorations and military-patriotic education.

Several children’s camps and sports centres in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories were also listed. The EU alleged that the facilities were involved in cultural reorientation, propaganda-based education and military-patriotic programmes.

North Korean camp sanctioned

The sanctions extend beyond Russia, with the EU also listing the Songdowon International Children’s Camp, a state-operated institution in North Korea.

The EU said the camp participated in programmes involving Ukrainian children transferred from Russian-occupied territories in coordination with Moscow. It alleged that activities at the facility were designed to promote pro-Russian narratives among the children.

Asset freezes, travel bans

The 10 individuals and 17 entities are subject to asset freezes in the European Union. EU citizens and companies are also prohibited from making funds or other economic resources available to those sanctioned.

The individuals are additionally subject to travel restrictions preventing them from entering or transiting through EU territory. The legal measures implementing the listings have been published in the EU’s Official Journal.

Over 20,500 children

The EU estimates that more than 20,500 Ukrainian children have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Council said the transfers constituted serious breaches of international law and violations of children’s fundamental rights. It also alleged that the policies were intended to erode Ukrainian identity among the transferred children.

Pressure on Russia

The latest measures form part of the EU’s wider sanctions regime targeting individuals and organisations accused of undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

The European Council had in June reiterated its support for Ukraine and said pressure on Russia should be intensified, including through further sanctions. The bloc has imposed successive rounds of restrictive measures on Russian officials, companies and other entities since the beginning of the war.