The Canadian government has added eight individuals to its sanctions list for their alleged involvement in the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children, as well as their exposure to indoctrination and militarization. This measure was announced during the visit of the President of Ukraine to Canada in early September and took effect on September 4. Canada co-chairs the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and is working to establish the personal responsibility of those involved in Russia's machinery for removing and re-educating children.
The individuals sanctioned include Grigory Gurov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, and former Chairman of the Board of the children and youth movement "Movement of the First". Gurov implements programs that involve removing Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories to Russia and integrating them into the Russian educational system. Others sanctioned include Artur Orlov, Chairman of the Board of the all-Russian children and youth movement, and Denis Chernobay, Head of the regional branch of "Movement of the First" in occupied Donetsk.
Maksym Maksymov, Head of Bring Kids Back UA, commended Canada for this decision, stating that it makes responsibility personal and puts on record the actions of specific individuals involved in the deportations. Bring Kids Back UA is an initiative launched in 2023 by the President of Ukraine to unite efforts for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The initiative works across multiple tracks, including search and verification of data, physical return of children, reintegration after return, restoration of justice, and strategic communications and advocacy.
As of August 28, 2,510 children who had been deported, forcibly displaced, or remained in temporarily occupied territories were brought home under the initiative. The Canadian government's new sanctions against Russia now cover more than 3,500 individuals and entities, with over 600 shadow-fleet vessels listed separately. Canada is one of the states working systematically to establish the personal responsibility of those who run Russia's machinery for removing and re-educating children.
The individuals sanctioned also include Vladimir Khromov, Elena Milskaya, Aleksandr Kurenkov, Vitaliy Suk, and Alexandra Kulgina, an official in the youth structures of the occupation administration in Donetsk. They are involved in drawing children and young people from occupied territories into Russian "youth" and labor programs. The Canadian government stated that these sanctions aim to hold accountable those involved in the abduction and militarization of Ukrainian children.
The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-chaired by Canada, aims to unite international efforts to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The coalition works to establish the personal responsibility of those involved in Russia's actions and to bring them to justice. Canada's sanctions are seen as a step towards achieving this goal and putting pressure on those involved in the abduction and militarization of Ukrainian children.
The Canadian government's decision to impose sanctions on these eight individuals demonstrates its commitment to holding accountable those involved in the alleged unlawful deportation and militarization of Ukrainian children. The move is expected to narrow the space in which these individuals can act with impunity and increase pressure on those involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children until every child is returned home.
Key points
- Canada sanctions eight individuals for involvement in alleged unlawful deportation and militarization of Ukrainian children.
- The individuals sanctioned include Grigory Gurov, Artur Orlov, and Denis Chernobay, who are involved in removing Ukrainian children from occupied territories and integrating them into the Russian educational system.
- The Canadian government's new sanctions against Russia now cover more than 3,500 individuals and entities.
