The European Union has imposed sanctions on five people linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex following recent Russian air strikes on Ukraine.
_x000D_EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the new measures on Friday. She accused Moscow of increasing attacks on civilians while Russian forces remain stalled on the battlefield.
_x000D_“Each new attack on Ukraine is another reason for Europe to tighten the screws on Russia,†Kallas said in a post on X.
_x000D_ _x000D_EU Sanctions Five People Over Russia’s Military Industry
_x000D_The new sanctions were adopted on August 7 in response to the recent Russian strikes.
_x000D_However, Kallas did not identify the five individuals. She also did not provide details about the specific restrictions imposed on them.
_x000D_The targets are linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex, which supports the country’s war effort.
_x000D_Kallas said Russia was intensifying its attacks despite limited progress on the battlefield.
_x000D_“With its army stalled on the battlefield, Moscow is further escalating its campaign of terror against civilians,†she said.
_x000D_She also called for continued European pressure until Russia ends its war in Ukraine.
_x000D_ _x000D_EU Expands Pressure on Russia
_x000D_The latest measures come just over two weeks after EU governments approved the bloc’s 21st sanctions package against Russia.
_x000D_The package was adopted on July 23. It added 48 individuals and 170 entities to the EU sanctions list.
_x000D_It marked the largest round of new listings since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
_x000D_The measures target several important parts of Russia’s economy.
_x000D_These include the financial, energy and military-industrial sectors. The EU has also targeted cryptocurrency networks and the shadow fleet used to bypass restrictions on Russian oil exports.
_x000D_ _x000D_New EU Sanctions Target Russia’s War Economy
_x000D_The previous sanctions package included 56 listings linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
_x000D_Among them were 37 individuals and entities connected to the production and supply chain of long-range drones.
_x000D_The EU says these measures are designed to restrict the resources available to Russia’s war economy.
_x000D_At the same time, European governments have continued efforts to close loopholes that allow Moscow to maintain access to international markets.
_x000D_ _x000D_Greece Secured LNG Exemption
_x000D_The latest sanctions package also included a concession for Greece.
_x000D_Greece secured an annually renewable exemption that allows companies to continue shipping Russian liquefied natural gas to countries outside the European Union.
_x000D_The arrangement helped clear the way for agreement on the wider sanctions package.
_x000D_Meanwhile, EU officials continue to call for stronger economic pressure on Moscow as the war in Ukraine continues.
_x000D_ The latest EU sanctions signal that Brussels intends to maintain pressure on Russia despite ongoing diplomatic and military developments.
