Ukraine imposes additional sanctions against Russia
The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine approved the introduction of additional sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities. The decision is made in connection with the incident in the Kerch Strait, as well as with the holding of elections in the self-proclaimed LPR and DPR.
The press service of the National Security Council of Ukraine specified that the sanctions are imposed on those Russian companies, businessmen, politicians and deputies, law enforcement officers, “who actively supported or contributed to aggressive actions against Ukraine.”
The “blacklist” also includes the organizers of the elections in the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, as well as the military, judges and law enforcement officers involved in the detention of Ukrainian sailors on November 25th, 2018.
Earlier, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated that additional sanctions would be introduced against some State Duma deputies in the United Russia and the Liberal Democratic Parties.
The election of heads and deputies in the self-proclaimed republics in the Donbas took place on November 11th. After this occurred, the EU introduced new personalized sanctions against election organizers in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
On the morning of November 25, Ukraine informed the Russian port of its intention to transfer three ships through the Kerch Strait, as required by the Agreement on the joint use of the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait. However, at around 8:00 a.m., Russian ships carried out acts of provocation against the Ukrainian vessels, even ramming into the Yany Kapu tugboat.
Russia later accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its territorial waters, claiming that they were “maneuvering dangerously” and “not complying with the legitimate demands of the Russian authorities”. Russia also physically blocked the Kerch Strait with a transport ship. The Ukrainian ships decided to return to Odessa, but they were chased and subsequently attacked by the Russian military. The Berdiansk and Nikopol boats were hit, and two crew members were wounded. All three of the ships were seized by Russia.
On November 28, the Kremlin-controlled court of Simferopol placed the Ukrainian sailors under 2 months of arrest – until January 25, 2019.