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Children

Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian authorities estimate that Russia has deported and forcibly transferred nearly 20 000 Ukrainian children into Russia or into Ukrainian territories illegally occupied by Russia. Those children, many of whom are from orphanages or separated from their families, often face forced adoption and efforts to erase their Ukrainian identity through forced assimilation and indoctrination.

Therefore, the EU is reinforcing accountability of those involved in such activities by listing 11 additional individuals. In order to streamline future sanctions on persons responsible for the abduction, forced assimilation and militarised education of Ukrainian minors, the Council is also introducing a new listing criterion.