EU, UK Sanction Dozens for Deporting 20,500 Ukrainian Children

The European Union and United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Monday against dozens of Russian individuals and entities accused of facilitating the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of nearly 20,500 Ukrainian children since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The EU targeted 16 individuals, including heads of children's camps, government representatives from occupied territories, and military officers involved in youth training, as well as seven entities linked to Russia's Ministry of Education. Among them was Lilya Shvetsova, head of the Red Carnation camp in occupied Crimea, who officials said supervised activities to shape children's political and ideological views through indoctrination and militarized education. Other targets included Yulia Sergeevna Velichko, minister for youth policy in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, and institutions such as the Warrior Centre, accused of subjecting children to military training and pro-Russian ideology. The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and prohibitions on EU citizens or companies providing funds or resources to those listed, bringing the EU's total sanctions related to the child...