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EU imposes new sanctions on Russia over abduction of Ukrainian children
May 11, 2026
Posted 2 hours ago by
The Council of the European Union on 11 May imposed sanctions on 16 individuals and seven legal entities responsible for the systematic illegal deportation, forced transfer and forced assimilation of Ukrainian minors, including through militarised education, as well as their unlawful adoption and transfer to Russia and temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
Source: European Pravda, citing a press release by the Council of the EU Details: Russia is estimated to have deported and abducted almost 20,500 Ukrainian children since the start of its war against Ukraine. The list of sanctioned entities includes federal state institutions linked to the Russian Ministry of Education such as the All-Russian Children's Centres Orlyonok, Scarlet Sails, and Smena. The European Council states that these centres organise programmes for Ukrainian children in which they are subjected to pro-Russian ideological indoctrination, including through "patriotic events, ideological education and military-oriented activities".
Ukrainska Pravda
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