New Zealand has announced a new package of sanctions against 33 individuals and entities supporting Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, said the country’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters.
According to the New Zealand Government’s press office, the restrictions are primarily aimed at cybercriminals, as well as individuals and organisations involved in the forced displacement, abduction and re-education of Ukrainian children.
“Children must never be used as instruments of war,” said Peters. He emphasised that New Zealand remains “deeply concerned” about attempts to abduct and re-educate Ukrainian children as part of forced state programmes.
The sanctions list also includes cyber operators who assist Russia in gathering intelligence, circumventing sanctions and obstructing the activities of those opposing Russian aggression. Specific restrictions apply to individuals “contributing to the creation and dissemination of anti-Ukrainian propaganda designed to legitimise Moscow’s war against Ukraine”.
“Actions carried out from behind a keyboard can have real-world consequences,” Peters noted. According to him, “Russia is increasingly using cyber operators to support its aggression.”
The new sanctions are also directed against representatives of the Russian military-industrial complex (MIC), Russian politicians, as well as citizens and organisations from North Korea and Iran who are assisting Moscow in the war against Ukraine.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that since March 2022, when the law on sanctions against Russia came into force, the country has already imposed restrictions on more than 2,000 individuals, legal entities and vessels.
This package marks New Zealand’s 36th round of sanctions against Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.