The European Union imposed sanctions against the governor of Oryol Oblast, Andrey Klychkov, on June 24. According to the EU statement, he is accused of "involvement in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia."
Governor Andrey Klychkov’s name appears in the 14th package of sanctions against Russia. The European Union cited the governor’s "involvement in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia" to justify this decision.
"[Klychkov] personally visited camps in Russia where Ukrainian children were sent and provided instructions for them to obtain Russian citizenship. These actions violate the rights of Ukrainian children, Ukrainian law, and administrative procedures," the document states.
Andrey Klychkov has not yet commented on the EU accusations. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he has been included in the sanctions lists of both the US State Department and Ukraine for urging citizens to join the war and approving Kremlin policies.
Like the majority of regional heads, Andrey Klychkov actively supports the invasion of Ukraine. He suggested that local companies pay salaries to employees who had gone to war. However, he has been reluctant to assist mobilized soldiers directly. In 2022, when soldiers complained to the governor about inadequate equipment, Klychkov advised them to buy new items themselves. He asserted that providing mobilized soldiers with financial aid is "the easiest way." He also signed a document stating that military personnel who were not involved in combat must return money to the region.
A month ago, Klychkov’s advisor and close friend, Sergey Lezhnev, was placed in pre-trial detention on charges of fraud.