Overview
- The European Union imposed asset freezes and travel bans on 16 individuals and seven organisations accused of moving Ukrainian children into Russia or occupied territory.
- Targets include entities tied to Russia’s Ministry of Education that EU officials say run indoctrination programs and militarized schooling, with some accused of arranging illegal adoptions.
- EU statements cite about 20,500 children transferred since the full-scale invasion, and an official says roughly 210 sites in Crimea and Russia carry out “de‑Ukrainization” efforts.
- Around 2,100 children have been returned to their families, including about 100 via international mediation, though Kyiv says Russia often changes names and papers to hide identities.
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the measures and urged joint efforts to repatriate all children, while a growing international coalition now counts 49 member states.