The European Union has pledged to increase pressure on Moscow "until Ukraine is liberated," announcing its tenth package of sanctions against Russia on Saturday, a day after the first anniversary of the war's outbreak. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Twitter: "We now have the most stringent sanctions ever, draining Russia's military arsenal and gnawing at its economy," adding that the bloc is increasing pressure on those trying to circumvent EU sanctions.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that the bloc would continue to impose further sanctions on Moscow. He stated, "We will continue to increase pressure on Russia, and we will do this no matter how long it takes until Ukraine is freed from the brutal Russian aggression." Borrell noted that the latest sanctions target the banking sector, technology that could be used for civil and military purposes, and advanced technologies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the new sanctions, describing them as "strong new steps against the military industry and the financial sector of the terrorist state." In his nightly video address, Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine is working to extend the sanctions further to include Russia's nuclear sector and the state-owned "Rosatom" energy company, as well as "all involved in the nuclear missile program and extortion of the terrorist state." There has been no reaction from Russia regarding the new sanctions.
Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova remarked that being placed on the list "violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all other international laws related to human rights."
#### What the Sanctions Include:
- The package adds to the list of banned exports electronic components used in Russian weapon systems on the battlefield, including drones, missiles, and helicopters, as well as integrated circuits and thermal cameras.
- Stricter restrictions are imposed on 96 other entities for supporting the military and Russian industrial complex, including, for the first time, 7 Iranian entities manufacturing military drones used by Moscow.
- Additional restrictions have been placed on imports of goods that generate significant revenue for Russia, such as asphalt and synthetic rubber.
- The EU has separately sanctioned 11 individuals and 7 entities linked to the "Wagner Group," whose fighters are active in Ukraine and participating in conflicts in African countries like Mali, where Borrell stated the activities of this group jeopardize international peace and security as they do not operate within any legal framework.
- Among those blacklisted are two leaders of the group who participated in taking control of the Ukrainian town of Soledar last month, as well as the head of "Wagner" in Mali, according to a statement from the EU.
