New Sanctions Signed by Zelenskyy Target Those Involved in Child Abductions and Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Sanctions Against Russian Entities

According to Главком: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted new sanctions targeting Russian individuals and organizations linked to the abduction of Ukrainian children and the operations of Russia’s shadow fleet of vessels. The first package imposes restrictions on 20 individuals and 4 legal entities directly involved in the forced removal of children from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Among those sanctioned are:

• Alexander Dyachenko, head of the 'Varyag' Maritime Training Center,
• Yuriy Mitlenko, a self-proclaimed deputy of the Polohy District Council in Zaporizhzhia region,
• Ihor Telehin, a self-proclaimed deputy of the 'Kherson Regional Duma' from the 'United Russia' party,
• Iryna Shetelya, a school principal in Vuhlehirsk implicated in the transfer of 130 Ukrainian children to Russia’s Rostov region.

Second Sanctions List

A separate sanctions list targets 23 maritime vessels used by Russia to export oil and petroleum products. Notably, two of these ships facilitate the transfer of cargo from ice-class tankers to shadow fleet vessels. The sanctioned ships sailed under the flags of several nations, including:

• Panama (7),
• Barbados (4),
• Palau (3),
• Russia (2),
• Marshall Islands (1),
• Comoros (1),
• Guyana (1),
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1),
• Antigua and Barbuda (1),
• Madagascar (1), and Mozambique (1).

It is noted that five of these vessels are already under sanctions imposed by the United States.

The European Union is also preparing its 21st sanctions package against Russia. According to Margus Tsahkna,

“the main focus of the new restrictions will be on the energy sector”

, signaling continued international pressure on Russia to uphold human rights and prevent further crimes, including the abduction of Ukrainian children.

These sanctions reflect Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to combat criminal actions tied to child abductions, which constitute a grave violation of human rights. Meanwhile, the EU’s preparation of new sanctions demonstrates global solidarity in countering Russian aggression and protecting Ukrainian citizens. This development could influence further steps by the international community to ensure security and human rights in Ukraine.

As international efforts to hold Russia accountable intensify, the recent sanctions by Zelenskyy align with the European Union's broader strategy. The EU's latest sanctions package represents a significant step toward addressing the ongoing crisis in the energy sector and the operations of the shadow fleet, further illustrating the global commitment to combat human rights violations and ensure justice for affected individuals.