Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted two decrees implementing decisions made by the National Security and Defense Council regarding sanctions. These measures specifically target Russian judges and extend sanctions against Russian companies whose previous sanctions are set to expire.
The sanctions package includes 41 judges, of which 38 are Russian nationals and three are collaborators. These individuals have been implicated in issuing unlawful sentences against prisoners of war and have supported Russian aggression against Ukraine, according to the President’s Office.
Among those sanctioned is a Russian judge who recently sentenced nine Ukrainian prisoners of war on charges of terrorism. Additionally, sanctions have been applied to individuals who sentenced two British volunteers and one Moroccan volunteer to death in temporarily occupied Donetsk, after they were captured while defending Ukraine.
The sanctions also target judges who have made illegal rulings against public figures, activists, and journalists based on their political and religious beliefs. Vladyslav Vlasuyk, the President’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, emphasized that these sanctions are a matter of justice, particularly highlighting the disgrace of former Ukrainians who have become collaborators and used the judiciary as a tool of repression.
Furthermore, Zelensky has extended sanctions against 11 Russian companies, which were initially imposed in 2021 and 2023. Three of these companies have been fully liquidated since the sanctions were first enacted. The list includes firms involved in the repair and maintenance of aviation technology, particularly helicopters, as well as companies that specialize in drone development and those operating illegally in the temporarily occupied Crimea, including those involved in the construction of the Crimean Bridge.
The Ukrainian government has stated that it will share relevant information with international partners to ensure synchronized actions within their jurisdictions.
In February, Zelensky also implemented sanctions against Russian scientists, leaders of so-called occupation administrations, and organizations involved in spreading propaganda and distorting historical narratives.
Ukraine has intensified its sanctions against Russian judges and companies as part of ongoing efforts to counteract Russian aggression. The measures target individuals involved in unlawful judicial actions and extend restrictions on companies linked to military and propaganda activities.