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EU extends sanctions on Russian individuals, blacklisting another eight officials

The new listings have been adopted by the Council of Europe as a response to escalation in the Kerch Strait

© AP Photo/Matt Dunham

BRUSSELS, March 15. /TASS/. The European Union has extended sanctions against certain Russian individuals for another six months, the Council of the EU said in a statement on Friday.

According to the document, the restrictive measures, which expire on March 15, are extended "in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine."

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In addition, the Council of the EU "added eight Russian officials to the list of those subject to restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine." "These new listings have been adopted by the Council as a response to escalation in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov and the violations of international law by Russia, which used military force with no justification," the statement says.

"The officials sanctioned include the head and deputy head of the border directorate of Russian federal security service for the Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol, three commanding officers of Russian border patrol boats and an anti-submarine ship which actively participated in actions that prevented Ukrainian vessels from accessing their coastline on the Sea of Azov, two heads of service of Russian control points, and a Russian armed forces commander responsible for military forces in the region," the statement adds.

"The measures now apply to a total of 170 persons and 44 entities," the Council of EU pointed out.

The EU’s economic and individual sanctions on Moscow that are currently in effect were imposed over the situation in Ukraine and Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

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