Zelenskyy imposes sanctions on Russian commanders, clergy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed new decrees introducing sanctions against Russian military commanders and religious figures accused of supporting and facilitating Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, the measures implement decisions adopted by Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, Caliber.Az reports. 

The first sanctions package targets 121 individuals identified as directly involved in missile strikes on Ukrainian territory. These include commanders of long-range aviation units within Russia’s aerospace forces, naval officers responsible for launching cruise missiles from ships and submarines, and ground force commanders linked to the use of ballistic and cruise missile systems.

Ukrainian officials said the list marks one of the first instances in which intelligence services have identified more than 100 individuals directly responsible for ordering and carrying out such attacks.

“These are common terrorists who should be sanctioned in all jurisdictions,” said Vladislav Vlasyuk, a senior adviser on sanctions policy.

A separate set of sanctions targets nine religious figures affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church and related organisations. Ukrainian authorities accuse them of publicly supporting the invasion, promoting propaganda, and calling for violence against Ukrainians.

Kyiv said it will share detailed information on both sanctions packages with international partners in an effort to align restrictive measures across jurisdictions.

By Sabina Mammadli