EU to impose new sanctions on Russia over evacuation of children from combat zone

EU sanctions 16 Russians and seven entities over alleged abduction of Ukrainian children

The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 16 Russian officials and seven entities accused of involvement in the systematic deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories, according to multiple reports.

The sanctions, announced at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, target those "responsible for the systematic unlawful deportation, forced transfer, forced assimilation, including indoctrination and militarized education, of Ukrainian minors," as well as their unlawful adoption and removal to Russia, the EU Council said.

The 16 individuals include teachers, heads of youth organizations, and administrators of children's centers, while the seven entities are suspected of running indoctrination programs or training children for military service, either for Russia or pro-Russian militias in Ukraine.

With this latest round, more than 130 people and entities are now subject to EU travel bans and asset freezes over the abductions.

The move follows the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is accused of personal responsibility for the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children—a charge he has denied.

Ukrainian officials and the EU say about 20,500 children have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Around 2,200 children have been returned, but identifying them remains difficult, especially for those taken at a young age.

At the Brussels meeting, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said Russia is trying to erase the children's identity, adding that such actions are "one of the features of the genocide crime" under the Genocide Convention.

Russia has consistently rejected the allegations, describing them as "anti-Russian propaganda" and insisting that its actions were "humanitarian evacuation measures" to protect children from combat zones. Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev said the figure of 20,000 lacks "any sort of substantial evidence."

The EU's new sanctions come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the issue. The EU, Canada, and Ukraine are members of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which held a high-level meeting in Brussels on May 11 to increase pressure on Russia and coordinate efforts to trace and return the children.