Canada sanctions eight Russians linked to deportation of Ukrainian children
Canada has placed sanctions on eight Russian nationals connected to the deportation of Ukrainian children, as only about 2,500 of more than 20,000 deported children have returned home.
Canada's government has added eight Russian nationals to its sanctions list over their alleged role in the deportation of Ukrainian children. The designation bars any individual or entity in Canada from dealing with the property or assets belonging to these eight people.
The sanctions took effect one week before Ukraine's leader arrived in Canada for official talks, a timing that ties the measure to the diplomatic visit.
The move comes as figures show that of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children deported to Russia or Russian-controlled territory since the start of the war, only about 2,500 have so far returned home. That leaves the vast majority of deported children still separated from their families and their country.
The forced removal of Ukrainian children has been cited internationally as one of the gravest allegations against Russia's conduct of the war. Canada's sanctions add to a wider set of measures by other governments and international bodies aimed at holding individuals accountable for their involvement in the deportations.
The source material does not specify the names or exact roles of the eight sanctioned individuals, but the nature of the sanctions — an asset freeze and a ban on dealings with their property — indicates Canada considers them directly connected to the child deportation process.
The slow pace of returns, with only a fraction of deported children back home, continues to be a central issue in international discussions on Ukraine, underscoring the scale of the challenge still facing efforts to reunite these children with their families.
