EU sanctions Russians accused of deporting Ukrainian children
by Danielle Haynes · UPIMay 11 (UPI) -- The European Union on Monday imposed new sanctions on Russian individuals and groups accused of illegally deporting Ukrainian children to Russia.
The Council of the European Union said in a release that since the start of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, "Russia is estimated to have deported and forcibly transferred nearly 20,500 Ukrainian children."
"These actions constitute grave breaches of international law and a violation of the fundamental rights of the child and aim to erase Ukrainian identity and undermine the preservation of its future generations," the release said.
The council also accused Russia of the "forced assimilation, including indoctrination and militarized education" of the Ukrainian children as well as their "unlawful adoption."
The sanctions will freeze the assets of those named as well as ban EU citizens and countries from transferring funds, financial assets or other economic resources to them. Those sanctioned are also banned from traveling to or through EU countries.
Lilya Shvetsova, head of the Red Carnation camp in Berdyansk, a branch of the International Children's Center, also known as Artek, a Russian educational institution in the occupied territory of Crimea. She's accused of overseeing programming at the camp to indoctrinate Ukrainian children with pro-Russian and military narratives.
Elena Romanovskaya, deputy chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea and a member of the Artek organizing committee. She's accused of acting as a liaison between the occupying government of Crimea and government-run children's institutions there.
Andrey Sabinov, deputy head of the occupied Kherson region of Ukraine and the head of the Warrior center branch there, a Russian state-led youth organization promoting patriotism and military education. Sabinov is accused of overseeing the ideological and paramilitary training of minors.
Aleksandra Bondareva, ombudsman for children's rights in the Astrakhan oblast. She's accused of receiving children forcibly taken from occupied Ukrainian territory and placing them with Russian families.
Alevtina Andreeva, commission for children's rights in the Murmansk region. She's accused of supporting the forced transportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories and their pro-Russian assimilation.
Alina Nikishaeva, head of the military-patriotic club Battalion Forpost in Crimea. Nikishaeva is accused of overseeing the ideological and paramilitary training of minors.
Igor Zhuravlev, director of the All-Russian Children's Center, also known as Smena, an organization linked to Russia's Ministry of Education. He's accused of overseeing the ideological indoctrination and military education of children.
Andranik Gasparyan, a senior military officer who is also commander of the Center for Military and Patriotic Training and Education of Youth. He's accused of overseeing the so-called Warrior Center, which includes patriotic and military training of young people.
Igor Vorobyov, head of the Volgograd branch of the Warrior Center. He's accused of overseeing the so-called Warrior Center, which includes patriotic and military training of young people.
Egor Logunov, minister of Youth Policy of the Zaporizhzhia region. He's accused of overseeing the ideological indoctrination and military education of children.
Marina Slonchenko, head of the Youth Affairs Department in the city of Sevastopol. She's accused of overseeing programs aimed at the ideological and patriotic indoctrination of young people in the occupied territory. She also allegedly supported the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children.
Natalya Shevchuk, head of multiple military-patriotic organizations in Crimea. She's accused of the ideological and patriotic indoctrination of young people under the guise of "rehabilitation, recreation and education."
Evgenia Grichenkova, head of the Artek camp Korsun in Crimea. She's accused of hosting forcibly transferred minors at the camp and implementing programs aimed at indoctrination.
Dmitriy Shevchenko, director of the Warrior Center. He's accused of overseeing the ideological indoctrination and military education of children.
Aleksey Zinchenko, chairman of the State Committee for Youth Policy in Crimea. He's accused of promoting patriotism among Crimean youth and encouraging them to join the Russian military.
Anastasia Akkuratova, deputy director of the Department of State Policy in the Field of Children's Rights Protection of the Ministry of Education. She's accused of participating in the forced relocation and adoption of Ukrainian minors.
The sanctioned entities include Smena, the Avangard Military Camp, The Sevastopol branch of the SOSAAF Center, the military-patriotic club Patriot, the Nakhimov Naval School, the All-Russian Children's Center known as Orlyonok and the All-Russian Children's Center known as Scarlet Sails.
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Ukrainian demonstrators rally in Kyiv on February 12, 2022 to show unity amid U.S. warnings of an imminent Russian invasion. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/UPI | License Photo