Canada Imposes New Sanctions Against the Russian Military-Industrial Complex
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Melanie Joly, announced the imposition of fresh sanctions against 20 individuals and 21 legal entities closely connected to the Russian military-industrial complex.
This was reported on the official website of the Canadian government.
Additionally, the statement also mentioned adding 19 individuals and 4 legal entities working in the Russian cultural and educational sectors to the sanctions list.
"Canada is imposing sanctions on Russian individuals and legal entities associated with private military companies and so-called volunteer organizations that support Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine," the statement said.
The list will include the leaders of the Russian terrorist organization "Wagner Group," who actively participated in the Russian War in Ukraine and conducted "operations" in Africa. Among them is Ivan Maslov, the head of Wagner's branch, who was involved in the mass killing of civilians in Mopti, Mali, in March 2022, during which, according to Human Rights Watch, at least 300 residents of the city were executed without trial over several days.
According to the statement, Canada and its international partners have also "targeted" the leaders of Russia's nuclear sector "to increase pressure on the Kremlin's reckless actions in Ukraine," which have raised the risk of nuclear threats, particularly at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Furthermore, the sanctions are aimed at a range of Russian individuals involved in the development, production, and supply of drones widely used for attacks on Ukraine, including the Russian "Orlan-10" drone.
In addition, Canada has introduced sanctions "against individuals supporting the Kremlin's efforts to russify Ukrainian culture." These restrictions will primarily apply to Russian singers, actors, directors, curators of cultural organizations, and high-ranking officials in Russia's cultural sector, including the Minister of Culture and heads of major Russian museums.
"Canada continues to vehemently condemn Russia's illegal aggressive war against Ukraine. We will not stand by while President Putin and his collaborators attempt to erase Ukraine's culture and identity through violent and unwarranted military actions and propaganda efforts," emphasized Melanie Joly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.
It should be noted that since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory, Crimea, and the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,600 individuals and legal entities in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova who have been involved in violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.