Great Britain imposed sanctions against the “Youth Army” and officials responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children
One of the darkest aspects of the war in Ukraine is the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. This is not only a tragedy for thousands of families, but also a strategic part of Russian policy aimed at destroying Ukrainian identity. Using children as a propaganda tool, Russia seeks to “re-educate” them in the spirit of its imperial vision. According to the Ukrainian authorities, more than 19.5 thousand children were taken from the temporarily occupied territories to Russia as of the end of March 2023. This figure may be much higher due to difficulties in collecting information in the occupied territories.
In response to these crimes, the international community is intensifying measures. On November 19, Great Britain introduced sanctions against a number of Russian organizations and officials involved in the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children. Among them are the Yunarmiya military-patriotic children’s movement, the “Avangard” educational and methodological center, and eight persons directly guilty of these crimes. About this it is said in a press release published on the website of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who was affected by the sanctions?
Sanctions were introduced, in particular, against Mykyta Nagorny, the chief of staff of the Yunarmy, as well as Tetyana Zavalska, the head of an orphanage in Kherson. Zavalska is accused of forcibly transporting 46 children to Russia for “adoption”. In addition, the sanctions affected Vitaly Suk, the director of the Oleshkiv boarding school for children with disabilities. These persons are directly involved in the implementation of the deportation policy.
The head of the British Foreign Ministry, David Lammy, noted that Russia’s actions are another proof of attempts to destroy the Ukrainian people as a nation.
“No child should ever be used as a pawn in a war, but Putin’s actions show how far he is willing to go in his criminal mission.” Lammy emphasized.
What is “Uniarmia”
Yunarmiya is a Russian military-patriotic movement for children and youth, created by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. He is known for his militaristic propaganda among schoolchildren and ideological treatment. The organization is already under sanctions from the US, Canada, Ukraine and Switzerland for supporting Russian efforts to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. Its activity is considered one of the tools of militarization of the young generation of Russia.
International reaction
The United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) have repeatedly condemned Russia for abducting children. In April 2023, Great Britain even blocked the broadcast of the speech of the Russian commissioner for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belova at the UN, calling on her to answer before the court in The Hague. In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova on suspicion of organizing the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
Lack of mechanisms for returning children
Despite the efforts of Ukraine and the international community, there is currently no transparent algorithm for returning deported children home. Russia complicates this process in every possible way, hiding the real scale of deportations and manipulating international legislation.
The deportation of Ukrainian children is not only a war crime, but also a manifestation of the systemic policy of genocide. Sanctions against those involved are an important step towards justice. But the fight for the return of every child continues, and the world must increase pressure on Russia to stop these barbaric actions.
