The EU is imposing sanctions on individuals implicated in crimes in Bucha

This was announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, according to Reuters.

The EU will also impose sanctions against several suspected Kremlin propagandists, including the Franco-russian Adrien Bocquet, whom Barrot described as “a key recruiter of foreign fighters in Ukraine, responsible for glorifying war crimes, as well as for disinformation campaigns in Europe and Africa”.

The EU Council’s website states that Colonel-General Alexander Chaika, former commander of the russian federation’s Eastern Military District and the highest-ranking russian military officer on Ukrainian territory at the start of the full-scale war, has been added to the sanctions list. It is noted that he was the one who led russian troops during the capture of Bucha.

The list also includes other high-ranking military officials who commanded the russian army in Ukraine at the start of the war and “committed atrocities” against the residents of Bucha and neighbouring areas, including Gostomel, Irpin and Borodianka.

“Troops under their command took part in looting and torture, and forced civilians to remove the bodies of dead russian soldiers. One of the individuals included on the list is also responsible for the adoption of a child from the russian-occupied Donetsk region, who was illegally deported to russia,” the statement reads.

It is noted that the above-mentioned individuals are now subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with funds. Furthermore, they are barred from entering or transiting through EU member states.

In total, “in response to russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine”, such restrictive measures currently apply to around 2,600 individuals and organisations.

Source: Suspilne