UK Announces New Sanctions over Russia's Forced Deportation of Ukrainian Children

The United Kingdom has announced new sanctions in response to Russia's forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

According to James Cleverly, UK Foreign Secretary, London has announced 14 new sanctions in response to Russia's attempts to destroy Ukrainian national identity, including 11 against those involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

It is noted that Russian officials can expect asset freezes and travel bans due to their involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children and the spread of hate-fueled propaganda.

Among the designations announced today are Russian officials Ksenia Mishonova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Moscow Region, and Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Education of Russia.

Furthermore, they sanctioned two Russian propagandists responsible for spreading abhorrent propaganda designed to incite violence and hatred towards Ukraine and its people, including Anton Krasovsky, a former Russia Today presenter, who claimed live on air that Ukrainian children should be drowned and burned.

Additionally, sanctions target Olga Lyubimova, the Russian Culture Minister, for using her position to support the Russian state's damaging anti-Ukrainian policies.

"In his chilling programme of forced child deportation, and the hate-filled propaganda spewed by his lackeys, we see Putin's true intention – to wipe Ukraine from the map," emphasised Cleverly.

Previously, in June 2022, the UK imposed sanctions against Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for her alleged involvement in the forced displacement and adoption of Ukrainian children.

In March, the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, who is also the authorised representative of the Russian President on children's rights, accusing them of war crimes related to the illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.

According to some estimates, Russia has abducted 700,000 children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities claim that only 307 have been returned.