EU sanctions 10 people, 17 entities over transfer and indoctrination of Ukrainian children
The European Union sanctioned 10 people and 17 entities over alleged involvement in the transfer, forced assimilation and militarized education of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories.
BRUSSELS, September 28, 2026 — The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and 17 entities that it said were involved in the unlawful transfer, indoctrination and forced assimilation of Ukrainian children.
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2184 expands the EU sanctions regime targeting actions undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. The Council cited Russia's continued war against Ukraine and what it described as the systematic unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and within occupied Ukrainian territories.
Among those listed is Rustam Minnikhanov, president of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan. The Council said Minnikhanov facilitated the deportation of Ukrainian children to camps in Tatarstan, including the Miras camp in the Zelenodolsky district.
Other individuals include Russian and occupation-administration officials involved in education and youth policy in occupied areas of Ukraine. They include Aleksandr Kalyagin, minister of education and science in the Russian occupation administration of Zaporizhzhia; Oleg Trofimov, acting education and science minister of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic; and Svetlana Bespalova, deputy education minister in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The EU also designated 17 organizations, many of them children's camps and educational facilities. They include the All-Russian Children's Centre "Ocean," Preobrazhensky Defence and Sports Centre, Sports and Recreation Complex "Romashka," Moscow City Tourism Committee and several children's camps in Russia and occupied Crimea.
The listings extend beyond Russia and occupied Ukraine. The EU sanctioned Songdowon International Children's Camp in North Korea, saying the state-operated facility participated in organized programs transferring Ukrainian children from occupied territories to North Korea and exposing them to pro-Russian political messaging.
The regulation entered into force upon its publication in the EU's Official Journal on Sept. 28.
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Structured data extracted from official sources and validated by sanctions experts