EU expands sanctions over Ukrainian child deportations, targeting 10 individuals and 17 entities
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On September 28, the Council of the European Union approved sanctions against an additional 10 individuals and 17 legal entities responsible for the illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The Council of the EU announced the decision in a press release, according to Rubryka.
The new sanctions target individuals and entities responsible for the systematic illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and across occupied Ukrainian territories. The measures also address forced assimilation, including ideological indoctrination and militarized education.
Entities added to the sanctions list include the Moscow City Tourism Committee and two Russian companies providing services in child recreation, tourism, and entertainment. According to the EU Council, these companies organize events focused on Russian history, military commemorations, and military-patriotic education.
The list also includes children's camps and sports centers located in Russia and temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. Authorities link these facilities to propaganda-driven education and military-patriotic and cultural events designed to integrate children into a Russian identity framework.
Additionally, the new sanctions package covers the Songdowon International Children's Camp, a state institution in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As the EU Council notes, the camp participates in organized programs transporting Ukrainian children from occupied Ukrainian territories. These activities are carried out in coordination with the Russian Federation and aim to spread pro-Russian narratives, according to the EU.
Individuals sanctioned by the EU Council include Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan. EU officials note that Minnikhanov facilitated the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to camps located in his region.
The list also includes ministers and deputy ministers of education and science in specific occupied territories, the minister of sports and tourism of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic," and directors of local children's camps and schools.
All individuals and entities listed under today's sanctions package face an asset freeze. EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with funds, financial assets, or economic resources.
For individuals, the sanctions also include a travel ban preventing entry into or transit through EU territory.
As previously reported, an OSCE expert mission under the Moscow Mechanism released a report establishing that Russia purposefully builds a system that indoctrinates, militarizes, and ultimately conscripts Ukrainian children into the ranks of forces occupying their own country.
Background
According to available data, Russia has already involved in the temporarily occupied territories:
- Over 344,600 children in the "Movement of the First" organization
- More than 44,000 children in "Yunarmiya"
In the 2025–2026 academic year, 1,980 schools operate under Russian standards in occupied regions, teaching over 582,000 children.
Furthermore, Russian authorities launched online courses to prepare teenagers for the military-patriotic game "Zarnitsa 2.0." Digitizing the program enables a broader reach, effectively bypassing constraints on offline training resources.
Russia continues a deliberate policy aimed at erasing national identity. Moreover, Russian occupiers keep transferring Ukrainian children from occupied territories under the guise of "cultural trips."
Reports show Russia funds numerous programs designed to "re-educate" Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories.
Additionally, authorities forced some children to participate in military-patriotic training, including singing the Russian national anthem and studying under the Russian school curriculum, in violation of international humanitarian law.
The public union "Ukrainian Child Rights Network" launched a chatbot to collect requests regarding the return of children and youth from occupation and deportation. The tool allows users to submit requests to return a child or young person under 23, report lost contact with family, and access support information, keeping all applicant data confidential.
