EU imposes sanctions against Russians over captured Ukrainian sailors

On March 15, Brussels announced the freezing of assets and the prohibition on issuing visas to eight Russian officials, Radio Liberty’s journalist posted on Twitter.

The officials sanctioned include the head and deputy head of the border directorate of Russian federal security service for the Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol, three commanding officers of Russian border patrol boats and an anti-submarine ship which actively participated in actions that prevented Ukrainian vessels from accessing their coastline on the Sea of Azov, two heads of service of Russian control points, and a Russian armed forces commander responsible for military forces in the region, including the illegally annexed Crimea and Sevastopol, the press service of the Council of the European Union reported.

The Council also extended the validity of these restrictive measures for another six months, until September 15, 2019. The Council removed one deceased person from the list. The measures now apply to a total of 170 persons and 44 entities.

As stated by the European Council on December 13, the EU requests the immediate release of all detained Ukrainian seamen as well as the return of the seized vessels and free passage of all ships through the Kerch Strait. It reaffirms its commitment to international law, the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and the EU's policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.

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