President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed decrees implementing the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council on the imposition of sanctions against Russian judges who illegally sentenced prisoners of war, as well as the extension of sanctions expiring against Russian companies, the Presidential press service reports.
The sanctions package includes 41 judges, 38 of whom are Russian citizens, and three are collaborators. They issued illegal sentences imprisoning prisoners of war and actively support and justify Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Among those sanctioned is a Russian judge who, in one week, sentenced nine Ukrainian prisoners of war in fabricated terrorism cases.
Ukraine also imposed sanctions on former Ukrainians in temporarily occupied Donetsk who sentenced volunteers to death: two Britons and one Moroccan, who defended Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces and were captured by Russian forces.
The sanctioned judges also include those who made illegal rulings against public figures, activists, and journalists for their political or religious beliefs.
“Sanctions against the so-called ‘judges’ who stamp politically motivated verdicts on our citizens and soldiers are a matter of justice. It is particularly shameful to see among them former Ukrainians who consciously became collaborators and turned the judiciary into a tool of repression,” said Vladyslav Vlasuk, Presidential Advisor on Sanctions Policy.
The President also signed a decree extending the sanctions that were due to expire against 11 Russian companies. The first sanctions against them were imposed in 2021 and 2023. In the meantime, three of these companies have been completely liquidated, demonstrating once again the effectiveness of sanctions.
This package includes: a company engaged in the repair and maintenance of aviation equipment, including Ka and Mi-type helicopters; a company specializing in the development and production of drones; and companies illegally operating in temporarily occupied Crimea that were involved in the construction of the Crimean Bridge.
All relevant information will be shared with Ukraine’s partners for further coordination in their jurisdictions.
