European Union introduces more Russian sanctions to squeeze DPRK and third country suppliers

BELFAST — On the second anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the European Union (EU) has further clamped down on industry suppliers illegally supporting Moscow’s conflict under a new round of sanctions that aims to prevent North Korean and third country weapon deliveries to Russia.

In all, 106 individuals and 88 “entities” are subject to the latest sanctions, the thirteenth by the EU since the Ukraine war began. The bloc has sanctioned more than 2,000 targets judged to have undermined or threatened Ukraine sovereignty.

“The new listings agreed today target primarily the military and defence sectors and associated individuals, including those involved in DPRK armament supply to Russia, as well as members of the judiciary, local politicians and people responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children,” said the European Council in a statement. The Council sets EU laws, policy and is responsible for adopting sanctions.

A total of 27 “new entities” are on the updated sanctions list and will be subject to tighter export restrictions on dual-use goods. A number of those parties are said to be located in third countries like China, India, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey. Many of those entities are accused by the EU of “circumventing trade restrictions,” with others judged to be “involved in the development, production and supply of electronic components for Russia’s military and industrial complex.”

The attempt at blocking free movement of North Korean arms to Russia, comes a month after the US State Department sanctioned three Russian firms and one individual, said to be “involved in the transfer and testing of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) ballistic missiles for Russia’s use against Ukraine.”

North Korea has become an increasingly important weapons supplier for Russia’s war. On Thursday, the Ukrainian government released a report saying Russia has used 20 DPRK-made Hwasong-11 (KN-23/24)  ballistic missiles in conflict, directly tying them to 24 civilian deaths.

In October 2023, the US said North Korea was responsible for delivering 1,000 containers of weapons and munitions to Russia. Washington’s position was backed by a throve of high resolution satellite images published by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) British think tank, that captured three cargo vessels “repeatedly transporting hundreds of containers likely packed with North Korean armaments,” between the Russian port of Dunai and the North Korean port of Rajin.

The US imposed additional sanctions on over 500 Russian targets today.

“These sanctions will target individuals connected to [Aleksey] Navalny’s imprisonment as well as Russia’s financial sector, defense industrial base, procurement networks and sanctions evaders across multiple continents.” US President Joe Biden said in a statement. “They will ensure Putin pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home.”

Elsewhere, the EU has also extended its list of restricted items capable of improving Russian military technologies by adding unmanned aerial vehicle component parts, with additional export of goods restrictions placed on electrical transformers.

Additionally, the United Kingdom has been added to a list of EU partners that impose restrictions on iron and steel imports from Russia.

Delivering a recorded speech, since widely reported, to commemorate Russia’s annual Defender of the Fatherland Day today, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that 95 percent of the country’s nuclear forces have been modernised and the Russian Air Force has taken delivery of four new Tu-160M supersonic nuclear capable bombers.