The European Union has announced an expansion of sanctions against Russia in relation to Ukraine, targeting seven individuals and five entities. The Council of the EU claims that these measures are directed at Russian citizens and legal entities who are allegedly responsible for engaging in a campaign of ‘digital information manipulation’ known as Recent Reliable News (RRN). The EU asserts that this coordinated effort is part of a broader hybrid campaign by Russia to undermine the EU and its member states.
The newly imposed sanctions affect several entities, including online media resource InfoRos, non-profit organization Dialogue, the Institute of the Russian Diaspora, and two Russian IT companies known as Social Design Agency and Structura National Technologies. Representatives from these entities are also included in the sanctions.
This recent escalation follows earlier actions by the EU, wherein 18 individuals and five entities were added to the sanctions lists in connection with gender-based violence. Additionally, restrictions on several sectors of the Russian economy have been extended until January 31, 2024.
Since the launch of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has imposed sanctions on around 1,800 Russian individuals and legal entities. These sanctions are part of the EU’s efforts to put economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine.
It is worth noting that Russia has responded to the EU’s actions. In a separate development, Russia has banned the import of fish from Western countries. This move is seen as a response to the EU’s economic sanctions, which have targeted various sectors of the Russian economy.
The EU’s sanctions against Russia demonstrate its determination to hold Russia accountable for its alleged manipulation of digital information and its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. The EU continues to employ both economic and diplomatic measures to exert pressure on Russia, with the aim of bringing about a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
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