EU to sanction 27 over Ukrainian child deportations, larger Russia package stalls

September 8, 2026 at 02:57 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The European Union is set to approve sanctions on 10 people and 17 entities accused of deporting Ukrainian children, with the decision expected on September 9. The larger package targeting Russia's defense industry faces delay due to a Slovak veto on renewing existing restrictions.

Key Facts

The EU will likely approve sanctions on 10 people and 17 entities on September 9 over the deportation of Ukrainian children.
The larger sanctions package targeting Russia's defense industry may not be approved until EU foreign ministers meet on October 12.
The EEAS has proposed blacklisting 1,600 people and entities, mainly from the Russian defense industry.
Slovakia is blocking the renewal of restrictive measures on over 3,000 already blacklisted individuals.
The Songdowon International Children's Camp in North Korea is among the entities proposed for sanctions.

Child Deportation Sanctions

The EU is expected to approve a smaller raft of sanctions on September 9 targeting 10 people and 17 entities accused of the systematic unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. The EU document seen by RFE/RL states that these deportations constitute grave breaches of international law and violate the fundamental rights of the child. Most of the proposed individuals are leading officials in occupied territories in Crimea and Donbas. The Songdowon International Children's Camp, run by North Korean authorities, is included for participating in organized programs transferring Ukrainian children to North Korea.

Broader Russia Sanctions Delay

The larger sanctions package in response to the Leipzig drone incidents is stalled due to a Slovak veto on renewing restrictive measures on over 3,000 already blacklisted individuals. The EEAS has provided EU capitals with a list of 1,600 people and entities, mainly from the Russian defense industry, for potential blacklisting. Germany closed the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russia House in Berlin after officially announcing Moscow was behind the drone incidents. Several European officials told RFE/RL that Germany might co-opt the EEAS proposal and add more names to it. The big batch of individuals is unlikely to be approved until EU foreign ministers meet on October 12, as legal clearance is still required.