A fence displaying 20,000 stuffed teddy bears has been erected, with each cuddly toy symbolising a Ukrainian child allegedly abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion. The installation serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
EU Sanctions Over Child Abductions
The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 16 officials accused of facilitating the abduction of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. These children have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-held territories, where many are forced to change their identities or are put up for adoption. The EU also sanctioned seven centres suspected of indoctrinating children or training them for military service in Russian or pro-Russian forces. More than 130 individuals and entities are now subject to EU travel bans and asset freezes over these abductions.
EU headquarters stated that the measures target those responsible for the systematic unlawful deportation, forced transfer, forced assimilation, indoctrination, and militarised education of Ukrainian minors, as well as their unlawful adoption. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in early 2022, approximately 20,500 children have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-held territories in eastern Ukraine. EU officials report that many children are stripped of their Ukrainian identity and culture, given Russian passports, and placed for adoption. Some are forced into indoctrination schools or military camps.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže remarked, “Russia is trying to erase their identity. When you look at the Genocide Convention, it’s one of the features of the genocide crime. So, it’s very serious.”
Kyiv Under Drone Attack After Ceasefire Expires
Kyiv came under drone attack on Tuesday following the expiration of a three-day truce with Russia, according to Ukrainian authorities. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital’s military administration, posted on Telegram: “Enemy UAVs are currently over Kyiv. Please stay safe until the alert is cleared.” The alert siren was the first in the capital since Friday, before the ceasefire came into force.
The three-day truce was announced on Friday by US President Donald Trump, just hours before Russia’s Second World War victory celebrations. Trump expressed hope that the ceasefire would mark “the beginning of the end” of the conflict. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday that fighting with Russia continued despite the ceasefire, accusing Russia of lacking the will to end the four-year war. “Today there was no silence at the front, there was fighting. We have recorded all of this,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address. “We also see that Russia has no intention of ending this war; unfortunately, it is preparing new attacks,” he added.
Corruption Investigation in Ukraine
Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies announced on Monday that they had served an official notice of suspicion to President Zelenskyy’s powerful former chief of staff as part of a major corruption investigation. The agencies did not name the official, in line with Ukrainian law, but local media widely identified him as Andriy Yermak. Yermak resigned in November 2025 after his home was raided by anti-corruption officers. He had served as Zelenskyy’s right-hand man throughout much of the Russian invasion.
Changing Dynamics of the War
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated on Monday that the “dynamics” of the Ukraine war were shifting in Kyiv’s favour, citing record Russian casualties and Ukrainian strikes on key Russian oil facilities. “Moscow’s record battlefield losses, Ukraine deep strikes into Russia, and Moscow’s shrinking military parade, these things all show that the dynamics of the war are changing,” Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers. “Ukraine is in a much better position than a year ago,” she added, but cautioned against complacency.
Rejection of Schröder as Negotiator
European governments on Monday rejected a suggestion by Russian President Vladimir Putin that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could represent them in possible future talks with Moscow. They dismissed any role for Schröder, who has worked for Russian state companies and maintains a close relationship with Putin. “It’s clear why Putin wants him to be the person – so that actually … he would be sitting on both sides of the table,” Kallas told reporters. “If we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf … that would not be very wise,” she said.
Russia’s Economic Outlook
Russia has cut its economic growth forecast for 2026 and the following three years but left unchanged the projected oil price despite the spike in global prices driven by the war in the Middle East, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Vedomosti daily in an interview on Tuesday. Russia’s $3 trillion economy, hit by the war in Ukraine, western sanctions, and high interest rates, contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter, marking its first quarterly decline since early 2023.
