Australia places 130 Russian individuals and entities on its sanctions list

The Australian Prime Minister has announced new sanctions against 40 companies and 90 Russian individuals. In a statement issued on Friday, on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Anthony Albanese said the sanctions were aimed at Russian energy, resource and industry ministers and key defense actors including Kalashnikov Concern, Tupolev Aviation and Admiralty Shipyards engaged in submarine construction.

Albanese declared: "We still stand by Ukraine" and at the same time announced further military aid to Kiev. The A$33 million aid package includes drones. They will provide the Ukrainian military with counter-aggression, surveillance and battlefield reconnaissance capabilities, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles said.

However, he did not specify the number of drones to be delivered to Ukraine, their models and the possibility of their armament. Australia is one of the largest non-NATO countries that has provided major military aid to Ukraine, including ammunition and defense equipment, and has imposed sanctions on more than a thousand Russian individuals and institutions. Since the war began, Australia has provided about $340 million in military aid to Ukraine and has sent its soldiers to England to help train Ukraine's armed forces.