Council of European Union imposes sanctions on nine individuals responsible for Bucha crimes
The EU Council has adopted restrictive measures against nine individuals responsible for crimes against the civilian population in Bucha during the Russian occupation in 2022.
This was reported by the Council’s press service, according to Ukrinform.
“In the context of the sad fourth year mark of the Bucha massacre that took place between February and March 2022, the Council today adopted restrictive measures against nine individuals who played a major role in the events,” the statement reads.
The Council is notably listing Colonel General Aleksandr Chayko, former Commander of the Eastern Military District and the most senior Russian military officer on the ground in Ukraine at the outset of the full-scale invasion. He was lead commander in Ukraine when Russian troops entered Bucha.
The new listings also include other high-ranking military officials who have commanded Russian troops in Ukraine in the early days of its aggression, and who have committed atrocities against residents of Bucha and neighbouring areas such as Hostomel, Irpin and Borodianka.
“The troops under their command have also been involved in looting, torture, and forcing civilians to remove the bodies of dead Russian soldiers. One of the listed individuals is also responsible for adopting a child from the Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, who was illegally deported to Russia,” the statement noted.
The nine individuals are now subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. They are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU member states.
These restrictive measures currently apply to around 2 600 individuals and entities targeted in response to Russia’s ongoing unjustified and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine.
As reported by Ukrinform, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, commenting on the latest EU sanctions against individuals responsible for the massacre in Bucha, stated that sanctions have been imposed on four Kremlin propagandists, including Franco-Russian Adrien Bocquet, who recruited foreign fighters to participate in the war against Ukraine, and who is responsible for justifying war crimes as well as for disinformation campaigns in Europe and Africa.