Australia levies sanctions on Russian leaders & businessmen as Ukraine war enters day 128

In retaliation to Russia's continuing military offensive in Ukraine, Australia on Friday sanctioned three Russian ministers along with an ditional 12 Russian nationals. According to a letter me public by Australian Department of Home Affairs on July 1, Children's Rights Commissioner for President of Russian Federation, Maria Lvova-Belova, has also been sanctioned by nation. letter furr revealed that independent sanctions have been put in place on Russian ministers of agriculture, Dmitry Patrushev, Transport Minister Vitaly Saveliev as well as Minister for Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Faizullin, TASS reported.  

In dition to this, Igor Putin, a businessman; Mikhail Putin, deputy chairman of management board of Sogaz Insurance; Roman Putin, chairman of board of directors of MRT Group of Companies, and Alina Kabaeva, board chair of National Media Group, are all targeted by embargoes.  

Australia's sanctions against Russia

Besides this, Yury Shamalov, he of Gazfond non-governmental pension fund, Mikhail Klishin, member of Board of Directors at Sogaz, chairman of board of Rosgeologia corporation and Yevgeny Novitsky, former he of AFK Sistema corporation, are among few who have been blacklisted by Australian government. 

Notably, Australia has previously imposed sanctions on 828 Russian and Belarusian individuals, including leers of those two nations, Vlimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, as well as on 47 significant Russian businesses and organisations. Moreover, nation has outlawed import of Russian energy, weapons, and ammunition, as well as export of weaponry, commodities, and oil and gas extraction machinery to Russia. 

Russia responds with sanctions on 121 sanctions on Australians

Meanwhile, earlier on June 16, Russian Foreign Ministry imposed sanctions on 121 more Australian people, which comprise journalists and defence personnel, claiming a "Russophobic agenda" in country. list has been expanded to include businessman Andrew Forrest, Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes, billionaire Gina Rinehart and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. Journalists from ABC News, Sydney Morning Herald, Nine, and Sky News, as well as various defence officials, are among those who have received sanctions, as per media reports.  

sanctioned individuals have been charged with having a "Russophobic agenda," and Russia has announced that blacklist will grow in future. In April, Moscow imposed entry restrictions on presidents of Australia and New Zealand as retribution for Canberra and Wellington's sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. 

Australia stepping up military assistance to Ukraine

In dition to this, Australia is stepping up its defence assistance to Ukraine as Russian forces continue to destroy key cities. According to a 9 News report, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ministration h delivered first four M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers. assistance indicated above is a portion of nation's $285 million aid package to Ukraine. Furr, in past, Canberra has provided ammunition, unmanned aerial systems, Bushmaster vehicles, and anti-armour weaponry. 

(Image: AP)