EU sanctions Russian officials over deportation of Ukrainian children
Key takeaways
- The European Union says thousands of children have been stripped of their Ukrainian identity and culture, given Russian passports and put up for adoption.
- Sanctions were also slapped on seven centers suspected of indoctrinating the children or training them to serve in the armed forces, either for Russia or pro-Russian militias inside Ukraine .
- Over 130 people and “entities” are now under EU travel bans and asset freezes over the abductions.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The European Union says thousands of children have been stripped of their Ukrainian identity and culture, given Russian passports and put up for adoption.
By: FRANCE 24 EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha address a media conference ahead of the High-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in Brussels, 11 May 2026. © Omar Havana, AP The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 16 officials accused of helping Russia to abduct tens of thousands of children from Ukraine and force many to change their identities or be put up for adoption.
Sanctions were also slapped on seven centers suspected of indoctrinating the children or training them to serve in the armed forces, either for Russia or pro-Russian militias inside Ukraine .