EU imposes sanctions on Russia’s ‘ghost fleet’, Chinese companies and North Korean defense minister

BRUSSELS Dec. 16 () –

The member states of the European Union adopted this Monday a new round of sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, in a package with special focus against the ‘ghost fleet’ with which Moscow tries to evade trade sanctions, as well as as against foreign entities, including six Chinese companies that help these maneuvers, and the North Korean Defense Minister for the deployment of forces in support of Russia.

Specifically, the EU applies sanctions against 52 ships that are part of the ‘ghost fleet’ that Russia uses to avoid European restrictions on the price of oil as well as to transport military material or stolen Ukrainian grain. With this step, the EU maintains 79 vessels on its ‘blacklist’.

The 15th package of EU sanctions attacks 32 companies and 53 people participating in these maneuvers as well as the supply of dual-use goods, which Russia then uses in the war of aggression in Ukraine. They will also affect actors based in third countries such as China, including a Chinese businesswoman and six entities. The list is also extended to companies based in India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates.

In the section on individual sanctions, the EU reinforces its measures by adding 54 people and 30 entities responsible for the military aggression against Ukraine, including senior officials of the Russian Army for attacks against civil infrastructure, the deportation of Ukrainian minors and the evasion of sanctions .

In the specific case of the entities, the focus is on Russian companies in the Defense sector and shipping companies in charge of the maritime transport of crude oil and petroleum products, which provide significant income to the Russian government.

FIRST SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA FOR THE SENDING OF TROOPS

Among this Monday’s sanctions, the EU points out for the first time North Korean leaders for Pyongyang’s continued arms transfers and the deployment of special forces in Russia. In this context, it adds the North Korean Defense Minister, No Kwang Chol, to its ‘blacklist’ for military cooperation between the regime of Kim Jong Un and that of Putin. including the deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia.

The other senior official sanctioned by the EU is Kim Yong Bok, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, who is stationed in Russia to coordinate support for Moscow in the war of aggression against Ukraine. The European bloc highlights his closeness to Kim Jong Un and underlines his “considerable experience and leadership of the special forces.”