UK sanctions Russians over 'forcible deportation' of Ukrainian children

LONDON

The UK on Tuesday announced new sanctions against "perpetrators of Russia's forced deportation and brainwashing of Ukrainian children" as Moscow's war on Ukraine entered the 1,000th day.

Those sanctioned are involved in Russia’s "systematic attempt to erase Ukrainian cultural and national identity," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

"More than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported by the Russian authorities to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," the readout said.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said no child should ever be "used as a pawn" in war.

"As Ukraine reaches the grim milestone of 1000 days of bravely defending against Putin’s illegal invasion, the UK’s support is iron-clad. With our international partners, we stand with Ukraine to confront Russian aggression and fight for freedom, liberty and victory," he said in the statement.

Sanctioned individuals are All-Russian Young Army Military Patriotic Social Movement (Yunarmia), Nikita Vladimirovich Nagorny, Igor Kazarezov, Andrey Sabinov, Serafim Vikentevich Ivanov, Avangard, Olena Oleksandrivna Shapurova, Valentina Vasilyevna Lavrik, Tetiana Zavalska, and Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Suk.

Russia has denied allegations of forced deportation of Ukrainian children since the beginning of its "special military operation" in February 2022.