Key facts
- Canada sanctioned eight individuals for their alleged involvement in Russia's deportation and militarization of Ukrainian children.
- The sanctioned individuals include Russian officials and leaders of state-led youth organizations.
- The sanctions target programs designed to erase Ukrainian identity and prepare children for military service.
- Ukraine's Justice Ministry has officially confirmed 20,610 cases of deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
- Ukrainian human rights groups estimate hundreds of thousands of children are under Russian control.
- The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova in 2023 for state-sanctioned child abductions.
Canada has imposed sanctions on eight individuals accused of orchestrating the unlawful deportation, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children by Russia. The sanctions, which became effective on September 4, were announced during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Canada.
Maksym Maksymov, head of the Ukrainian Bring Kids Back UA initiative, told the Kyiv Independent that the sanctioned individuals include Russian officials and leaders of state-led youth organizations. He stated that these programs aim to make Ukrainian children cease identifying as Ukrainians and ultimately prepare them for service in the Russian army.
Maksymov explained that Russia's tactics have evolved, now focusing on erasing children's identity "on the spot, through schools, youth movements and 'patriotic education,'" rather than solely through deep deportation. This process is described as an extensive militarization effort in occupied territories to "raise future soldiers."
As of September 2026, Ukraine's Justice Ministry has officially confirmed 20,610 cases of deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. However, Ukrainian human rights groups estimate that hundreds of thousands of children remain under Russian control, including those deported, forcibly transferred, or still in occupied territories at risk of deportation. Ukrainian officials' estimates for abducted children range from up to 150,000 by Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets to 200,000–300,000 by Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Daria Herasymchuk.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova in connection with state-sanctioned child abductions.