EU sanctions 10 people and 17 entities over Ukrainian children

The EU has imposed sanctions on 10 more people and 17 entities over what its Council describes as the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and within occupied parts of Ukraine. The Council says the listings also address efforts to assimilate children through indoctrination and militarised education. [1]

Those listed face asset freezes, while people and businesses in the EU are barred from providing them with funds or other economic resources. The 10 individuals are also subject to EU travel bans. [1]

The new targets include the state-run Songdowon International Children’s Camp in North Korea and Rustam Minnikhanov, president of Russia’s Tatarstan region. The Council says the camp took part in Russian-coordinated programmes transferring children from occupied Ukraine, and accuses Minnikhanov of facilitating deportations to camps in his region. Children’s camps, sports centres and Moscow’s tourism committee are also among those listed. [1]

The Council estimates that more than 20,500 Ukrainian children have been deported or forcibly transferred since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine. [1] An independent UN commission of inquiry has found that unlawful deportations and transfers of children by Russian authorities amount to war crimes. Its investigators have described co-ordinated efforts to move children and place them in Russia for the long term. [5]