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 of individuals and organizations subject to property restrictions and travel bans to the Union. 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 sanctions on Friday, i.e. on 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, which help to thin Russia's military arsenal and have a heavy impact on its economy,” wrote the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Twitter.
“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,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also said on Twitter. 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. For example, officials responsible for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia were added to the list of individual sanctions.
