The European Union has sanctioned Russian officials and camps accused of abducting and indoctrinating Ukrainian children during the war.
EU Imposes Sanctions Over Ukrainian Children Abduction
European Union has imposed new sanctions on 16 officials and seven institutions accused of helping Russia abduct thousands of Ukrainian children since the start of the war.
The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans targeting individuals and camps allegedly involved in the forced transfer, indoctrination, and militarized education of Ukrainian minors in Russian-controlled territories.
EU officials say more than 20,500 Ukrainian children have been unlawfully deported or transferred to Russia or occupied parts of eastern Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. According to the bloc, many children were stripped of their Ukrainian identity, given Russian passports, and placed in adoption programs or military-style camps.
Russia Accused of Erasing Ukrainian Identity
Baiba Braže described the actions as extremely serious and linked them to potential genocide concerns under international law.
The sanctions also target camp leaders and military officials accused of organizing political indoctrination programs for children. One of those named was Lilya Shvetsova, who oversees the “Red Carnation” camp in occupied Crimea.
The EU announced the measures during a meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-hosted with Canada in Brussels.
International Pressure on Russia Continues
The International Criminal Court has already issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes connected to the deportation of Ukrainian children.
So far, around 2,200 children have reportedly been returned to Ukraine, although officials say identifying and repatriating many of them remains difficult.
The European Union says pressure on Russia will continue until more Ukrainian children are safely returned home.
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