European Union and United Kingdom impose sanctions on Russia over child deportations

European Union and UK Impose Sanctions on Russian Institutions and Officials Over Alleged Child Deportation and Indoctrination

The European Union has announced measures targeting 23 state institutions and individuals, while the United Kingdom has unveiled a broader package of sanctions against 85 people and entities. The EU’s designations focus on institutions and individuals involved in programmes subjecting children to pro-Russian indoctrination, including patriotic events, ideological education, and military-oriented activities.

Russia has been accused of deporting nearly 20,500 Ukrainian children since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The European Union views these actions as grave breaches of international law. The EU’s sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans, which were approved by its 27 nations in coordination with Canada and the UK.

The UK has also targeted institutions and individuals involved in Russia’s campaign to forcibly deport and militarise Ukrainian children. This includes the Centre for Military and Patriotic Training and Education of Youth, a Russian state institution accused of subjecting Ukrainian children to military training and pro-Kremlin ideology. Yulia Sergeevna Velichko, the Moscow-installed minister for youth policy in the Luhansk People’s Republic, has also been targeted.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 for the war crime of illegal deportation of children from Ukraine. In response to the announced sanctions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that these measures target those who “rewire” the identity of Ukrainian children and help them hate their homeland.

The UK’s broader sanctions package also targets Russian information warfare operations, including individuals and entities linked to alleged Kremlin propaganda campaigns. This includes 49 people working for the Social Design Agency, a state-funded Russian organisation accused of running disinformation and interference operations.

Source: Al Jazeera