UK imposes 85 Russia designations over child deportation and Kremlin information warfare, with £1.2m return fund

On May 11, 2026 the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office designated 85 individuals and entities under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, in a package split between Russia's forced deportation of Ukrainian children and its information-warfare apparatus. Per the FCDO release, 29 designations targeted those linked to the forced deportation, indoctrination and militarization of Ukrainian children, and 56 targeted Kremlin information-warfare actors—including 49 people associated with the Social Design Agency (SDA), which the UK said is funded and directed by the Russian Presidential Administration to run influence operations aimed at undermining democratic institutions and eroding support for Ukraine (including efforts in Armenia).

Named targets included the 'Warrior Centre' (Centre for Military Sports Training and Patriotic Education of Youth) and Yulia Sergeevna Velichko, a youth-policy official in the Russian-controlled 'Luhansk People's Republic.' The UK said over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported, with around 6,000 sent to re-education camps, and announced an additional £1.2 million in funding (£600,000 to a Verification Centre and £600,000 to a Ukrainian-led tracing programme) to help identify and return children. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK 'will not stand idly by as Putin seeks to sow lies and pro-Kremlin narratives abroad.' Designees face asset freezes and UK dealing prohibitions.

This UK action ran in parallel with the EU's same-day designations (see cof-30d-002), forming a coordinated transatlantic measure; the underlying allegations are the UK government's.