On April 23, 2026, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions against five individuals involved in the deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, as well as against four individuals responsible for the theft of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

This is part of the 20th package of sanctions against russia.

“Unfortunately, russian individuals involved in reprehensible acts continue to operate with impunity, and are often supported by the government itself. Since the start of the war, russia is estimated to have deported and forcibly transferred nearly 20 000 Ukrainian children, while pursuing policies to forcibly assimilate and indoctrinate Ukrainian children in order to diminish their Ukrainian identity. Russian government-linked individuals are involved in the seizure of Ukrainian cultural property, and state media broadcasts anti-Ukrainian narratives. To enforce accountability, the EU is listing five individuals and one entity enabling the abduction, forced transfer and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, as well as four persons involved in the appropriation of Ukrainian cultural heritage,” the Council of the EU said in a statement.

Who was sanctioned:

• Oleg Igorevich Ovcharenko, 20.08.1969, President of the Federation of Traditional Martial Arts of the Hostovsky Region, President of the Stavros International Martial Arts Center, Head of the “Young Knight” sports program.

Justification of sanctions: Head of the militarized “Young Knight” program, which involves children, in particular from the temporarily occupied Luhansk region. As part of the program, minors undergo military training, including weapons handling, tactics, hand-to-hand combat, and drone operation. The program is accompanied by propaganda and is aimed at fostering loyalty to the Russian Federation and preparing participants for military service, contributing to the forced assimilation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.

• Svitlana Volodymyrivna Dmytrova, Head of the “Education Department of the Simferopol District Administration”.

Justification of sanctions: In the occupied territory of Crimea, she implements a policy of “military-patriotic education” aimed at fostering loyalty to the Russian Federation. She coordinates educational programs integrating the region into the Russian system, supports activities glorifying the Russian army, and promotes youth involvement in military service. Under her leadership, cadet classes were established and cooperation with pro-Russian organizations was developed, contributing to the assimilation and militarization of Ukrainian children.

• Antonina Ivanivna Shepchenko, Director of “Guards School No. 1” of the Simferopol district.

Justification of sanctions: Implements Russian state educational policies in occupied Crimea aimed at forming Russian identity among Ukrainian children. Organizes activities supporting the annexation of Crimea and the Russian army, and initiated the creation of a cadet class with military-patriotic training, contributing to the indoctrination and militarization of students.

• Mikhail Alekseevich SHMOILOV, General Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Snegiri”.

Justification of sanctions: Organizes trips for children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, during which they undergo Russian patriotic education and military training, contributing to their forced assimilation and militarization.

• Fedor Aleksandrovich Chudinov, 15.09.1987, Russian boxer, member of the “United Russia” party, deputy of the Serpukhov city district council.

Justification of sanctions: Participates in pro-Russian and militarist events for children and youth in Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories. He is an ambassador of the “Healthy Fatherland” movement and supports structures linked to the war against Ukraine, thereby undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

• Andrey Vladimirovich POLYAKOV, 06.08.1974, Director of the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Justification of sanctions: Led illegal archaeological excavations in occupied Crimea without Ukraine’s consent, contributing to cultural appropriation and legitimization of the Russian occupation of the peninsula.

• Nikolay Andreyevich Makarov, 22.12.1955, Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Justification of sanctions: Heads an institution playing a key role in state archaeological activities of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea, contributing to policies undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

• Sergey Gennadievich Obryvavlin, 09.10.1975, First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Justification of sanctions: Coordinates units involved in the appropriation of Ukrainian cultural heritage, authorizes illegal archaeological work in Crimea, and promotes the cultural integration of occupied territories into the Russian space.

• Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky, 09.12.1944, Director of the State Hermitage Museum.

Justification of sanctions: Publicly supports Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and contributes to legitimizing the occupation through cultural policy. Under his leadership, illegal archaeological excavations were conducted in Crimea and the inclusion of Ukrainian museum artifacts in Russian collections was promoted.

Earlier sanctions measures:

On March 16, 2026, on the fourth anniversary of the Bucha tragedy, the Council of the EU imposed sanctions against nine Russian military personnel involved in crimes committed in Bucha and the nearby cities of Hostomel, Irpin, and Borodianka in February–March 2022.

On November 20, 2025, the Council of the EU imposed sanctions against four citizens of the Russian Federation responsible for serious human rights violations in Russian prisons where Ukrainian citizens are held. Documented cases of torture include the death of Ukrainian investigative journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in September 2024 as a result of ill-treatment in Taganrog Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 2, which has become one of the key sites of the Russian torture system.