Japan has broadened its sanctions against Russia, adding 48 individuals to its blacklist, including Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin and Alan Lushnikov, who leads the Kalashnikov concern. The disclosure came from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and signals a more expansive posture in Tokyo’s approach to the ongoing crisis.
The package combines asset freezes within Japan for the designated individuals with export controls aimed at limiting the flow of military and dual-use technologies. This two-pronged strategy targets both people and the entities tied to them, seeking to curb activities believed to support Russia’s military operations.
The blacklist is divided into two groups. The first includes 39 Russian figures on the sanctions roster, while the second covers individuals from the self-proclaimed and internationally disputed territories of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk, as well as residents from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. The split mirrors a common sanctions approach that distinguishes actors inside Russia from those linked to the contested territories.
Among those targeted is Alexander Kharichev, who heads the Presidential Office tasked with coordinating work for Russia’s State Council, along with his deputy Boris Rapoport. The measures also name several people connected to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and include Turpal Ali Ibragimov, a political figure tied to Ramzan Kadyrov’s inner circle. These designations illustrate Tokyo’s intent to pressure senior leadership and key decision-makers within Russia’s security apparatus.
In a parallel move, Japan added 94 institutions to the sanctions list, ranging from major financial firms to research organizations. Notable entities include Rosbank, the Wagner Private Military Company, the Lebedev Institute of Physics under the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ruselectronics holding, and Rosstandart. Targeting these institutions broadens pressure beyond individuals to the organizations that support or enable activities linked to the Russian state. Export restrictions were imposed on 21 of the listed entities, underscoring a wider effort to curb access to strategic goods and technology with potential military applications.
The announcements from Tokyo come amid a broader wave of international actions against Russia, including export controls and financial measures, reflecting a coordinated effort among allied countries to respond to developments in the region. In a public statement, the Japanese prime minister stressed that the new sanctions would affect both people and groups, including components used in drones and other strategic items, signaling a sustained commitment to tightening restrictions as events unfold. (Source: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)