The European Parliament recognized Russia's actions against Ukrainian children as genocide and called for new sanctions

Now the focus of the European Union is not only on deported children but also on 1.6 million children who remain under occupation. Members of the European Parliament demand an end to their militarization and tougher sanctions against Russia.

Європарламент закликав запровадити санкції проти «Газпрому» і «Роснефті» через депортацію українських дітей / фото: Європейський парламент

12 November, 15:17

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Ukrainian children who were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation or who remain in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The document calls on EU states to officially recognize these crimes committed by Russia as genocide and to expand sanctions, including against Russian state corporations.

This was reported by Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratyuk, who is on a working visit to the European Parliament.

The decision was supported by 536 members of the European Parliament, only 8 voted against, and another 37 abstained. According to Olena Kondratyuk, the main feature of the adopted resolution is the change in the European Parliament's approach to Russia's crimes against Ukrainian children.

Key provisions of the resolution

Focus on children under occupation. The focus now is not only on deported children but also on 1.6 million Ukrainian children who live in the temporarily occupied territories. The European Parliament demands that Russia stop their forced russification, indoctrination and militarization, and ensure their right to Ukrainian education and the possibility of safe departure.

Recognition as genocide. The European Parliament states that Russia's actions toward Ukrainian children meet the legal definition of genocide and calls on EU countries to officially recognize them as such.

Expansion of sanctions. Deputies propose imposing restrictions against the entire system that organizes and enables these crimes. This concerns not only specific officials but also state corporations, in particular Gazprom and Rosneft, which are involved in financing the transfer and "re-education" of Ukrainian children. The document also defines a list of categories of persons who should be subject to sanctions.

No political bargaining. The European Parliament clearly emphasizes that the return of Ukrainian children cannot be a subject of political bargaining or territorial concessions during any peace negotiations.

"I welcome the decision of the European Parliament. I thank the members of the European Parliament for their особую attention to Russia's crimes of forced deportation, militarization, and change of identity of Ukrainian children — the need to strengthen sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation in order to return Ukrainian children and stop the violation of their rights", said Olena Kondratyuk.

As a reminder, according to official data, Russia illegally deported and forcibly transferred more than 20.6 thousand Ukrainian children, although the real number may be significantly higher. For their rescue and reintegration in Ukraine, the presidential initiative Bring Kids Back UA and the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children operate, thanks to whose joint efforts almost 2,800 minors have already been returned home.