Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted a new package of sanctions against Russian entities and individuals supporting Moscow’s military-industrial complex and facilitating the circumvention of international restrictions, the presidential press office reported.
The measures, based on National Security and Defense Council decisions from March 26, target those involved in the production of advanced weaponry, the construction of the Kerch Bridge, and illegal business activities in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The primary sanctions package includes 26 individuals and 31 legal entities. Among them are companies manufacturing maritime and aerial robotic systems, as well as electronic warfare (EW) equipment, air defense systems, and armored vehicles. The list also covers enterprises in the aviation industry responsible for producing and repairing components for the Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-14 helicopter families.
A secondary decree targets 7 individuals and 11 entities involved in sanctions evasion networks. These include manufacturers of critical components for Russia’s X-101 and Iskander-K missiles.
“These sanctions hit the core of the Russian military-industrial complex, from weapon manufacturers to networks facilitating sanctions evasion,” said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the President’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy. “We are consistently closing the loops, including activities in temporarily occupied territories.”
Ukraine plans to share the data with international partners to synchronize sanctions across global jurisdictions.
On March 28, Zelensky warned Ukrainian drone manufacturers against building factories abroad “behind the state’s back” to bypass wartime export bans. He criticized short-sighted deals, citing one instance where a domestic firm sold 1,000 interceptor drones abroad for $3.5 million despite holding a €300 million ($345 million) state contract.
Kyiv has also recently pushed for stricter international compliance. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha criticized a recent US decision to delist three sanctioned Russian vessels – the Fesco Moneron, Fesco Magadan, and Sv Nikolay – calling the move a “manifestation of weakness.”
Speaking alongside Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee, Sybiha insisted that “any easing [of sanctions] is a manifestation of weakness” and that pressure on Moscow must intensify to achieve peace.