Key facts
- The EU is preparing new sanctions targeting 27 Russian individuals and entities.
- The sanctions are related to the deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.
- EU ambassadors reviewed the proposed blacklistings.
- The sanctions are expected to be adopted by the end of September.
- Ukraine has verified over 20,500 children deported to Russia.
- The UN has classified these deportations as a war crime.
The European Union is moving to implement additional sanctions against Russia, focusing on individuals and entities implicated in the forced deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. The EU's diplomatic service has presented a list of 27 Russian targets for review by member state ambassadors, with adoption anticipated by the end of September.
This action follows previous sanctions packages that have targeted those responsible for the abduction, deportation, and re-education of minors from occupied Ukrainian territories. The European External Action Service (EEAS) has also provided member states with a list of 1,600 individuals and entities contributing to Russia's war effort, signaling a shift towards more targeted sanctions.
Ukraine has confirmed the deportation of over 20,500 children, though estimates from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab suggest the number could be as high as 35,000, while Moscow has indicated a figure of up to 700,000. The US-based Institute for the Study of War notes the difficulty in verifying exact numbers. Reports indicate that Russian-installed authorities created an online "catalogue" of Ukrainian children for coerced adoption, categorizing them by age, gender, and physical traits.
Returning deported children to Ukraine is a lengthy process, often requiring mediation by third states such as Qatar, South Africa, and the Vatican. In March, the United Nations declared the deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia a crime against humanity and a war crime.