The European Union (EU) on Thursday imposed sanctions on 45 entities, including three Indian companies, for allegedly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex, PTI reported. The sanctions are part of the EU’s 19th package aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The EU has identified the three Indian firms as Aerotrust Aviation Private Limited, Ascend Aviation India Private Limited and Shree Enterprises, PTI reported. According to EU data, these entities will now face stricter export restrictions on goods and dual-use items that could contribute to the technological strengthening of Russia’s defense sector.
The EU focuses on military and technological means
The European Council specifically designated these 45 new entities for “direct support” of the Russian military and industrial complex. According to the European Council, the sanctioned entities “allowed the circumvention of export restrictions on computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, microelectronics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other items of advanced technology.
Where are these sanctioned companies located?
Of the 45 sanctioned entities, 17 are located outside Russia. These include 12 in China (including Hong Kong), three in India and two in Thailand.
Russo-Ukrainian War
Three years after Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, the war shows no sign of resolution. Just two days ago, Russia carried out several drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, even as US President Donald Trump’s latest attempts to broker peace between the two nations appeared to be faltering.
The attacks killed at least two civilians in Kyiv and wounded dozens more across the country in the early hours of Wednesday, according to air defenses and local authorities.
The attack targeted residential areas and energy infrastructure in the capital, the central Poltava region and Zaporozhye in the south. The Danube port city of Izmail was also hit, officials said on Telegram, Bloomberg reported earlier.
The US recently imposed sanctions on two Russian oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in an effort to increase pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire, the US Treasury Department said on Thursday.
