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EU imposes bans on Russian officials

Monday, 16 February 2015 8:38 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 16 February 2015 11:53 PM ]

The picture shows the European Union (EU) flag flying amongst EU member countries' national flags in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. ©AFP

The European Union (EU) has slapped bans on two Russian deputy defense ministers as part of its latest round of sanctions over the Ukrainian crisis.

Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov and first Deputy Minister of Defense Arkady Bakhin were named in EU's official Journal on Monday as the new targets of the bloc’s travel bans and asset freezes.

The sanctions also hit three other Russian officials, including Joseph Kobzon and Valery Rashkin, members of the Duma (parliament).

Fourteen Ukrainian authorities, all military or political figures in the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as nine entities were also included in the list.

The new round of sanctions was agreed upon late last month after attacks on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol left over 30 people dead.

The EU blamed the attacks on pro-Russia forces, but refrained from applying the sanctions as France and Germany were trying to secure a ceasefire in east Ukraine.

EU leaders decided to push ahead with the bans during a February 12 summit.

The new additions bring the number of individuals and entities hit with sanctions to 151 and 37 respectively.

The sanctions come despite a ceasefire coming into effect over the weekend between pro-Russia forces and Kiev in Ukraine’s east.

The ceasefire was the result of marathon talks in the Belarusian capital of Minsk between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany on February 12.

The fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russia forces has taken a heavy toll on thousands of people since mid-April 2014. Over 5,500 people have died and some 12,200 wounded in the conflict, the United Nations says. Around 1.5 million people have also been forced from their homes over the past months of turmoil.

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