The new measures will impose financial sanctions and travel bans on 70 individuals and 79 entities.
Australia marks its three years since the full-scale Ukraine invasion, and is now imposing new travel bans and financial sanctions on Russian individuals and groups.
In a joint statement on February 24th, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defense Minister Richard Marless and Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced 149 new sanctions.
“Australia is standing with Ukraine,” the statement read.
The new measures will impose financial sanctions and travel bans on 70 individuals and 79 entities.
Sanctions specifically target individuals who support Russia’s illegal administration in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, including “so-called ministers, judges and prosecutors.”
They also include those responsible for conflict-related sexual violence and forced deportation of Ukrainian children.
Related Stories
Australia is currently imposeting more than 1,400 sanctions in response to Russian invasions.
South Korea in northern Russia is under scrutiny
The sanctions also focus on those involved in strengthening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including allegedly deploying North Korean forces on the battlefield.
The government described the alliance as “a dangerous expansion of Russia’s war with serious consequences for Europe and the Indo-Pacific security.”
In addition to targeting Russian defense, transport and financial sector targets, Australia has imposed sanctions on individuals and groups who spread disinformation to undermine Ukraine and other governments around the world.
The government also banned Russia from supplying commercial drones and related elements and strengthened trade bans.
Since the start of the war, Australia has provided over $1.5 billion (US$953 million) of support to Ukraine.
“Once again, Australia calls on Russia to immediately end the war and fully comply with its obligations under international law in relation to the protection of civilians and the treatment of prisoners of war. We will work with Ukraine and our partners. And Australia supports Ukraine’s fair and lasting peace,” the government’s statement concluded.
Dutton is looking for stronger support
Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton also issued a statement reaffirming his support for Ukraine.
“Australians look to the heroic strength of the Ukrainian people. In the fight against tyranny, the Ukrainians are not only fighting for their freedom, but they are fighting the battle of civilization itself. “We’re at the forefront of the world,” he said.
Dutton urged Australia to go beyond words and provide further military equipment, supplies and aid to Ukraine. He, along with Shadow Ministers David Coleman and Andrew Hasee, criticised the Albanese government’s response, calling it slow and inadequate.
“We saw the government refused to provide the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter. Labour unclearly left the Kyiv embassy unavailable for almost three years, and the country’s energy needs. I ignored the request to help with,” added Dutton.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, with missile attacks in several cities.
Ukraine last updated its victim figures in December 2024. This admitted that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted 43,000 Ukrainian deaths between soldiers and officers.
Data analyzed by the BBC shows that only 30% of Russians are exposed directly to the war through combat and family ties, but almost 80% of Ukrainians know that someone has been killed or injured .
