The British government said it had added 14 more names to its sanctions measures against Russia, including Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova and Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
Eleven of those sanctioned were involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, Reuters pointed out.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said the sanctions announced today by London are being imposed on individuals who have supported the overthrow of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the program of forcible removal of children.
“In his chilling program of forced deportation of children and the hate-filled propaganda spread by his lackeys, we see Putin’s true intentions – to wipe Ukraine off the map. Today’s sanctions include those who support the Putin regime, including those who want to see Ukraine destroyed and its national identity and its future obliterated,” Cleverley said.
Earlier this month, Russia said it had brought about 700,000 children from the conflict in Ukraine to Russian territory. According to Moscow, its program to bring children from Ukraine to Russian territory aims to protect orphans and children left behind in the conflict zone.
Ukraine, for its part, claims that many children have been illegally deported, and the US says that thousands of children have been forcibly removed from their homes. Ukraine’s Ministry of Integration of the Occupied Territories said 19,492 Ukrainian children are currently believed to be illegally deported.
Lyubimova was sanctioned for supporting the promotion of policies and actions that “destabilize Ukraine or threaten its territorial integrity,” Britain said.
2023-07-17 11:11:55
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