May 11, 2026 – Brussels, Belgium – Global Affairs Canada

At today’s High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in Brussels, Belgium, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations in response to the Russian government’s violations of Ukrainian children’s rights.

Since Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, thousands of Ukrainian children have been illegally deported or forcibly transferred, as well as exposed to indoctrination and militarization by Russian authorities in Russia and on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

These actions are unacceptable and must come to an end. The unlawful deportation and forced transfer of children constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law and a profound violation of human rights.

Canada strongly condemns Russia’s actions and is sanctioning an additional 23 individuals and five entities involved in the violations against Ukrainian children. These measures build on the sanctions Canada has already imposed. Canada has sanctioned over 80 individuals and entities for their involvement in violations of the rights of Ukrainian children in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Those sanctioned include Russia’s Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, as well as regional commissioners and other individuals responsible for the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of children, including their indoctrination and militarization. Sanctioned entities include government-affiliated and other organizations involved in these violations.

Canada calls on the Russian authorities to immediately return Ukrainian children to their communities and comply with its international legal obligations. The return of these children is both a humanitarian imperative and a central element to achieving a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.

Canada will continue to work with its like-minded partners to coordinate additional measures that increase the economic costs of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine for the Russian regime.