Kyiv targets financial, cultural and transport links in Belarus sanctions move updated

Sanctions introduced against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko are intended to significantly limit the Belarusian leader’s activities across economic, financial, transport, cultural and scientific sectors, while also imposing a range of personal restrictions.

The measures were reported by the UNIAN Telegram channel and were enacted under a decree signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to the decree, the sanctions envisage freezing of assets as well as a ban on their use or disposal. They also introduce a complete suspension of trade operations and impose restrictions or a full halt on the transit of resources, flights and transportation through Ukrainian territory.

The package further includes measures aimed at preventing the withdrawal of capital from Ukraine and provides for the suspension of economic and financial obligations. In addition, licenses and other permits may be cancelled or suspended.

The sanctions prohibit participation in privatization processes and public procurement, ban the entry of military ships and aircraft, and introduce restrictions on the transfer of technologies and intellectual property rights. Cultural, scientific and sports cooperation is to be terminated, while a separate provision bars entry into Ukraine and prohibits the acquisition of ownership rights to land plots.

Some of the restrictive measures have been introduced for a period of 10 years, while others are imposed without a fixed срок and remain indefinite.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the imposition of sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The decision comes in response to Belarus’s active support of Russia’s military operations on Ukrainian territory and the deployment of the Russian “Oreshnik” missile system in Belarus.

Zelenskyy shared the announcement on his Facebook page.

He emphasised that Ukraine will work with international partners to ensure the sanctions have a global impact. According to Zelenskyy, in the second half of 2025, Russian forces deployed relay systems in Belarus to operate strike drones, enabling attacks on northern regions of Ukraine. Many strikes on energy facilities and railway infrastructure would not have been possible without Belarusian cooperation.

The president also noted that more than 3,000 Belarusian enterprises supply Russia with critical components, equipment, and machinery, including elements used in missile production that have targeted Ukrainian cities and villages. Furthermore, infrastructure is being developed in Belarus to host medium-range “Oreshnik” missiles, which pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to all of Europe.

“Alexander Lukashenko not only provided Belarusian territory for the Oreshnik system. Last year, the country’s enterprises supplied Russia with critical parts, components, and mechanical support for this weapon. This continues into 2026,” Zelenskyy said.

He stressed that Lukashenko “sacrifices Belarus’s sovereignty to preserve his personal power,” assists Russia in evading international sanctions, and justifies Russia’s war. Consequently, Zelensky said, special measures will be applied against him.

By Tamilla Hasanova