Minister Joly announces additional sanctions in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

News release

February 23, 2024 – New York, United States - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions on 10 individuals and 153 entities under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations. Canada is announcing these sanctions in coordination with the United Kingdom and the United States. Nearly 2 years after it began, President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has gone on too long. These sanctions focus on areas that impact the Russian government’s ability to continue its illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine.

These sanctions target individuals and entities who support the Russian military through finance, logistics and sanctions evasion. The individuals listed include an aide to President Putin as well as senior officials of private and state-owned companies registered in Russia and Cyprus. These individuals and the firms they lead represent nodes of direct and indirect support to the Russian government’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Most of the sanctioned entities are part of the Russian military-industrial complex, providing research and development, production, repairs, and other goods and services to Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

Canada is also announcing a prohibition on the export to Russia of designated goods that could be used to make weapons and serve its war against Ukraine. The prohibition applies to explosives, including detonators, that are used in the mining and construction industry. The export ban also includes an additional 20 controlled items that are known to be used by Russia to produce and manufacture weapons.

Canada is increasing pressure on Putin and the Russian government by strengthening its sanctions regime. Canada’s sanctions can now target anyone outside Canada, who is not Canadian, who violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This includes those who help Russia and its proxies to avoid or get around sanctions.

Canada continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the Russian government’s unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, which has needlessly jeopardized stability in the entire region and put countless lives at risk, and calls on President Putin to immediately withdraw his military and proxy forces from Ukrainian territory.

Quotes

“Today, we’re sending a clear message to Russian officials and the organizations they run: We stand by the people of Ukraine as they are bravely defending their rights in the face of Putin’s unjustifiable and aggressive actions. We will continue to use disruptive measures against the Russian government, targeting its ability to wage its illegal war until Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are fully restored.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

The entities sanctioned today provide goods and services such as components for Kalibr missiles and drones, insurance and retail services to Russian soldiers and to the Russian Ministry of Defence. They also include entities providing oil transportation and logistics services to the Russian government.
The export ban applies to all explosives, including detonators, as well as to designated items from a list developed with Canada’s international partners that pose a heightened risk of being used by the Russian government to strengthen its military-industrial complex.
Since 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,900 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova who are complicit in the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and in gross and systematic human rights violations. Many of these sanctions have been implemented in coordination with Canada’s allies and partners.
Since January 2022, Canada has committed more than $9.7 billion to financial, military, humanitarian, development and immigration assistance for Ukraine.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca

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Date modified:: 2024-02-23