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Ukraine Imposes New Sanctions on Russian Officials and Publishing Houses
Ukraine has placed fresh sanctions on eight senior Kremlin officials and five Russian publishing houses for alleged crimes against Ukraine and its citizens, according to an announcement from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office on November 9.
Among those sanctioned is Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation. Dmitriev, who was born in Kyiv, has been a central figure in the Kremlin’s diplomatic outreach to the Trump administration. He visited the United States last month for discussions with American officials and previously participated in high-level talks held in Alaska in August.
“We will be reaching out to Amazon and other sellers so that they stop selling the literature” produced by the sanctioned publishers, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine’s sanctions chief, told the Kyiv Independent.
The list of sanctioned individuals also includes Russia’s Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut, Russian Security Service agent Aleksey Komkov, and Oleksandr Tupytskyi, the former chairman of Ukraine’s Constitutional Court. Tupytskyi fled Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion and is currently evading authorities in Vienna. He has been under U.S. sanctions since 2021.
According to the President’s Office, these individuals “appropriated agricultural property, grain crops, and cultural heritage sites, conducted information operations against our state, and introduced Russian educational standards with anti-Ukrainian narratives in the occupied territories of Ukraine.”
The second decree focuses on Russian publishing houses: Book World, Veche, Tsentrpoligraf, Yauza, and Piter. Ukrainian officials claim these publishers are responsible for disseminating Russian propaganda globally and promoting anti-Ukrainian sentiment and violence in Russian-occupied territories.
The timing of these sanctions appears strategic. Vlasiuk indicated they were largely a response to recent Russian sanctions against Ukrainian officials, particularly Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svrydenko. On November 1, Moscow also imposed sanctions on Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, Advisor to the Defense Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, and Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev.
President Zelensky emphasized the significance of these countermeasures, stating, “Russia is trying to prolong the war, expanding its efforts to justify aggression and normalize the occupation of Ukrainian territories.”
He added, “Russia has also recently made a demonstrative political decision to impose sanctions against Ukrainian officials, in particular against the prime minister of Ukraine. Such behavior by Russia deserves far greater global pressure and a broader scope of that pressure.”
The sanctions highlight Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to counter Russian influence not just on the battlefield, but in economic and cultural spheres as well. By targeting publishing houses, Ukraine is addressing what it sees as Russia’s information warfare strategy—using literature and educational materials to shape narratives about the conflict.
These latest measures come amid a broader international sanctions regime against Russia. Recently, Chinese refiners reportedly began avoiding Russian oil following U.S. sanctions, according to Bloomberg, indicating the growing complexity of the global response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
For Ukraine, targeting individuals like Dmitriev—who moves between Russian political circles and Western business environments—represents an attempt to disrupt Russia’s diplomatic and economic outreach efforts. Similarly, the focus on publishing houses demonstrates Ukraine’s concern about Russian cultural influence and propaganda efforts.
As the conflict approaches its third year, these sanctions reflect Ukraine’s multi-pronged strategy to counter Russian aggression through diplomatic, economic, and information channels, while seeking to maintain international pressure on Moscow.
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8 Comments
Interesting to see Ukraine targeting not just individuals but also the publishing houses fueling Russian disinformation. Cutting off the supply of pro-Kremlin literature is an important part of the information war.
I wonder if these sanctions will have a meaningful impact in limiting the spread of Russian propaganda, or if the Kremlin will find other ways to disseminate its message. Time will tell.
It’s good to see Ukraine taking strong action against those enabling Putin’s aggressive campaign. Cracking down on the Kremlin’s propaganda networks is a necessary part of the broader effort to counter Russian aggression.
The sanctions on Tupytskyi are also significant, as he was a key figure undermining Ukraine’s institutions. Removing these pro-Russian elements is crucial for Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
Ukraine is right to go after the Kremlin’s propaganda machine. Sanctioning key figures like Dmitriev and disrupting the flow of disinformation materials is a crucial counteroffensive in the information war.
These sanctions send a clear message that there will be consequences for those supporting Putin’s war machine and propaganda efforts. Ukraine is right to use all tools at its disposal to defend itself against Russian aggression.
This is an important step in holding Russia’s propaganda machine accountable. Sanctions on key figures like Dmitriev and Lut will make it harder for the Kremlin to spread disinformation about the war in Ukraine.
I agree, the sanctions on Russian publishing houses are crucial to limit the flow of pro-Kremlin propaganda. Ukraine is right to push tech companies like Amazon to stop selling these materials.