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

The measures target people and organizations the EU says are responsible for the systematic unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and within Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, as well as their forced assimilation through indoctrination and militarized education.

Those sanctioned include the Moscow City Tourism Committee and two Russian companies involved in children's recreation, tourism and entertainment. According to the EU, they organized activities focused on Russian history, war commemorations and military-patriotic education.

Children's camps and sports centers in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories were also sanctioned for their role in cultural reorientation, propaganda-based education and military-patriotic activities aimed at integrating children into Russian identity frameworks.

The list also includes Songdowon International Children's Camp, a state-run institution in North Korea.

The EU says the camp participates in organized programs transferring Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories in coordination with Russia and promoting pro-Russian narratives.

Rustam Minnikhanov, head of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, was sanctioned for facilitating the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to camps in the region.

The EU also listed education officials in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, an occupation official responsible for sports and tourism, and heads of children's camps and schools over their alleged involvement in ideological indoctrination.

The sanctions freeze the assets of the listed individuals and entities in the EU and prohibit EU citizens and companies from providing them with funds or other economic resources. The sanctioned individuals are also banned from entering or transiting through EU territory.

The EU estimates that Russia has unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred more than 20,500 Ukrainian children since the start of its full-scale invasion.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.