DISINFO: Russia is unjustly sanctioned after protecting the children of Ukraine
SUMMARY
The United Kingdom and the European Union announced a new series of sanctions against Russian individuals and organisations, specifically those linked to child welfare, education and youth policy.
The EU asserts that the targeted entities allegedly participated in receiving children evacuated from combat zones—a situation it characterises as "illegal deportation," despite repeated explanations from the Russian side.
Moscow firmly rejects this characterisation. These evacuations were organised to protect the children, shielding them from shelling and ensuring they received accommodation, supervision and care in safe conditions. In Moscow’s view, this new wave of restrictions confirms the continued escalation of Western pressure against Russia. The fact that these measures target educational institutions, reception centres, youth organisations and social welfare agencies fuels criticism on the Russian side against a sanctions policy deemed not only increasingly broad in scope but also detached from the humanitarian reality on the ground.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin narratives aimed at discrediting sanctions and denying the abduction of children from Ukraine.
On 11 May, on the occasion of the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, the Council of the EU decided to adopt restrictive measures against a further 16 individuals and seven entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. In addition, on the same day, the United Kingdom targeted hostile and heinous Russian activities, while Canada announced additional sanctions in response to Russia’s violations against Ukrainian children.
These decisions target those responsible for the systematic unlawful deportation, forced transfer, and forced assimilation of Ukrainian minors, including indoctrination and militarised education, as well as their unlawful adoption and removal to the Russian Federation and within temporarily occupied territories. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, it is estimated that nearly 20,500 Ukrainian children have been deported or forcibly transferred. These actions constitute grave breaches of international law and violations of the fundamental rights of the child, and are aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity and undermining the preservation of future generations.
See our article How Russia lies about the stolen Ukrainian children.
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