On May 11, 2026, the European Union imposed sanctions on 16 officials accused of facilitating the abduction of tens of thousands of children from Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion. The sanctions also included seven centers suspected of indoctrinating these children and training them for military service. Since the invasion began in early 2022, around 20,500 children have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-controlled territories. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze emphasized the severity of the situation, linking it to genocide under international law. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, holding him personally responsible for these war crimes. While about 2,200 children have been returned, the process of identifying and bringing them home remains complex and challenging. The EU, in collaboration with Canada, is also working to strengthen diplomatic efforts through the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, aiming to increase support for tracing the abducted children and pressuring Russia to cease these actions.