Full Breakdown
EU Sanctions Target Individuals and Entities Behind the Deportation of Ukrainian Children
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Action – Sanctions Adopted on September 28
On September 28, the Council of the European Union adopted restrictive measures against 10 individuals and 17 entities accused of participating in the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and occupied Ukrainian territories. The sanctions impose asset freezes and travel bans on the listed persons and prohibit EU citizens and companies from providing them with funds, financial assets, or economic resources.
Background & Context
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities have organized the forced transfer of Ukrainian children from conflict zones to facilities inside Russia, the occupied regions of Ukraine, and even abroad. Earlier EU measures targeted similar activities, but the September 28 decision expands the scope to include additional camps, companies, and officials.
Key Figures, Organizations, and Facilities Sanctioned
- Moscow City Tourism Committee – a municipal body linked to children’s recreational programs.
- Two Russian companies operating in children’s recreation, tourism, and entertainment, organizing events that commemorate Russian military history.
- Multiple children’s camps and sports centers located in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
- Songdowon International Children’s Camp (also referred to as “Sondovon”) – a state-run institution in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that coordinates transfers of Ukrainian children for “pro-Russian narrative” programs.
- Rustam Minnikhanov – President of the Republic of Tatarstan, cited for facilitating deportations to camps in his region.
- Ministers and deputy ministers of education and science in certain occupied territories, the minister of sports and tourism of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, and heads of various children’s camps and schools involved in ideological indoctrination.
Data & Statistics
- 10 individuals and 17 entities are subject to the new EU sanctions.
- The EU estimates that over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted and placed in camps or indoctrination programs linked to the listed actors.
- In addition to the 10 + 17 list, some reports note a separate set of 27 further listings of persons and organizations implicated in the same scheme.
Official Statements & Responses
Consequently, the EU imposed asset freezes, travel bans, and a prohibition on financial interactions with the listed parties.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- While most outlets report the 10 individuals and 17 entities figure, one source mentions an additional 27 listings of actors involved in the abduction and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. The relationship between the two sets of listings (whether they are cumulative or overlapping) is not clarified.
- The exact number of children affected is given as “over 20,000,” but precise counts and the distribution across camps and regions remain unspecified.
What’s Next
The EU has indicated that further discussion of measures against Russia’s deportation and indoctrination network will occur at an upcoming foreign-ministers summit scheduled for October. The outcome of that meeting may determine whether additional individuals or entities will be added to the sanctions regime.