Flag of the European Union. Illustrative photo.
Brussels – Today, the European Union officially approved another, the tenth package of sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. The new measures will affect banks, the export of technologies usable for military purposes or the export of Russian raw materials. The sanctions list will also be expanded, adding 121 names. In addition, today the EU adopted additional sanctions against the Russian mercenary Wagner Group, which operates in Ukraine and several African countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi welcomed the adoption of sanctions, while calling for further pressure on Russia.
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The ambassadors of the EU member states agreed on the new anti-Russian sanctions on Friday, i.e. the day of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the union formally adopted them today. The approval was more complicated than usual this time because the countries could not agree on the details of a ban on exports of Russian synthetic rubber proposed by Poland. EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement today. “We now have the most far-reaching sanctions at our disposal, helping to thin Russia's military arsenal and hitting its economy hard,” wrote the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“The pressure on the Russian aggressor must increase: we expect decisive action against Rosatom and the Russian nuclear industry, more pressure on the military and the banking sector,” he said in response on the adoption of the tenth package of EU sanctions by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. “We expect further intensification of pressure and restrictions, especially in the area of the nuclear industry and Rosatom's activities,” he also said on TwitterUkrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Rosatom is a Russian state concern with a focus on nuclear energy.
Restrictions against Russia now apply to Alfa and Tinkoff banks, which are waiting to be disconnected from the SWIFT international payment system. The export of components usable for military purposes, for example electronic components for the production of rockets and helicopters or thermal cameras, should be limited. The sanctions are also intended to affect the production of drones supplied to Russia by Iran. To the list of individual sanctions, which affect individuals and organizations, among other things, by banning the disposal of property in the Union, for example, the officials responsible for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia have been added.
Today, the EU also adopted new sanctions against the mercenary Wagner group, which concern 11 individuals and seven entities. Among them are two mercenary commanders who took part in the fighting near Soledar in Eastern Ukraine, or the commander of the units in Mali. In addition, the Union in its decision also mentions human rights violations by Russian mercenaries in the Central African Republic and Sudan.
