EU expands sanctions for deportation and Russification of Ukrainian children, adding 10 individuals and 17 entities

The Council of the EU has sanctioned another 10 individuals and 17 entities for their involvement in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and within Russian-occupied territories, as well as their Russification, including militarised education.

Source: European Pravda, citing the press service for the Council of the EU

Details: The decision targets individuals responsible for the systematic illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and within temporarily occupied territories, as well as their forced assimilation, including ideological indoctrination and militarised education.

The entities added to the sanctions list include the Moscow City Tourism Committee and two Russian companies that provide recreation, tourism and entertainment services for children and organise events focused on Russian history, war commemorations and military-patriotic education.

Children's camps and sports centres in Russia and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine have also been listed for their role in propaganda-based education and military-patriotic and cultural activities aimed at integrating children into a Russian identity framework.

The sanctions package also includes the Songdowon International Children's Camp, a state-run institution in North Korea which participates in organised programmes involving the transfer of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in coordination with the Russian Federation and with the aim of promoting pro-Russian narratives.

The Council of the EU has also added Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan, to the list for facilitating the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to camps in his region. The list also includes ministers and deputy ministers of education and science in certain occupied territories, the sport and tourism minister of the so-called " Donetsk People's Republic ", and heads of local children's camps and schools. 

Those added to the list are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. Individuals are also subject to a ban on entering or transiting through EU territory.

Background: On 22 September, the Council of the EU decided to extend restrictive measures against individuals responsible for undermining or threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence for another 36 months, but removed Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!