Ukraine prepares “long-range sanctions" against Russian military, propaganda networks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv has identified priority targets for a new wave of “long-range sanctions” to be implemented in the near future. 

Speaking on Telegram after a meeting with top security officials—including Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Chief Vasyl Maliuk and Foreign Intelligence Service Head Oleh Ivashchenko—Zelenskyy emphasized the government’s commitment to executing these measures.

“Together with the heads of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, we have identified priority targets for our long-range sanctions in the near term. We will definitely implement all of them,” Zelenskyy stated.

Zelenskyy also confirmed that he had signed decrees imposing sanctions on individuals involved in Russia’s military production and propaganda efforts. “I have also signed new decrees on Ukraine’s sanctions—targeting individuals who work for Russia’s military production and propaganda. And we will continue to block every scheme used to circumvent sanctions,” he said, without specifying the exact targets.

The announcement comes after Ukrainian Defence Forces carried out strikes overnight on October 23, targeting the Ryazan oil refinery and a Russian ammunition depot, underscoring Kyiv’s ongoing strategic pressure on Moscow.

Zelenskyy further outlined plans to align Ukraine’s sanctions with the EU’s 19th package. “Next month we will complete the synchronization [of sanction packages with our partners], fulfilling all our plans and commitments,” he said. Following a meeting attended by Presidential Sanctions Policy Commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Zelenskyy instructed officials to intensify cooperation with international partners to ensure a unified approach.

“The cumulative effect of sanctions has the greatest impact, which is why it is crucial that partners adopt measures already implemented by their neighbors within their own jurisdictions. This requires substantial efforts within the Group of Seven, as well as across Europe—to ensure that EU sanctions are supported by Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and other countries outside the EU—and also close cooperation with Japan, Canada, and the United States,” Zelenskyy noted.

The President estimated that these sanctions could cost Russia at least $50 billion in annual losses. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed on October 23 that the European Union had approved its 19th sanctions package against Russia in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva