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Kiev expands sanctions on Russia, bans two popular social networks

Internet providers in Ukraine will not allow users to have access to Russian e-mail services Mail.ru and Yandex

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko

© AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov

KIEV, May 16. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on expanding the list of Russian individuals and legal entities subject to sanctions, the press service of the Ukrainian president said on Tuesday.

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"The head of state has put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on April 28 "On using personal economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)," the presidential administration said.

The sanctions list now includes 1,228 Russian individuals and 468 legal entities.

The president also enacted a decision of the National Security and Defense Council on introducing sanctions against two popular Russian social networks, VKontakte (VK) and Odnoklassniki, the president’s press service said.

Internet providers in Ukraine will not allow users to have access to Russian e-mail services Mail.ru and Yandex.

Kiev has also extended sanctions against Russian TV channels and companies specializing in developing anti-virus software, the presidential press service said on Tuesday:

"The sanctions target TV channels RBC, TV Center, VGTRK, NTV Plus and Zvezda, and anti-virus companies Kaspersky Lab and DrWeb. Internet providers have been ordered to block access to these Internet resources."

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Ukraine crisis Sanctions vs. Russia Pyotr Poroshenko

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