New rounds of European Union sanctions were announced in response to ongoing violations of human rights, including sexual and gender-based violence, linked to actions in Ukraine and the surrounding region. These measures targeted individuals and units connected to serious abuses, including acts that occurred between 2021 and 2023, with a focus on those whose roles facilitated or carried out aggression, coercion, and violence against civilians.
One high-ranking military figure implicated in the pattern of committed abuses is a general linked to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The EU identifies him as having been involved in occupations and operations where the scale and severity of sexual and gender-based violence indicate planning at a systemic level. The EU notes that some commanders either ordered or tolerated such violence, underscoring a broad pattern of human rights violations associated with his command. This underscores the EU’s stance that leadership responsibility extends to foreseeability and consequences of orders given in conflict zones. (EU Official Journal)
Another name on the list is a colonel who previously commanded a division active in the spring 2022 offensives toward Chernihiv and Kiev. Reports describe unit members committing sexual and gender-based violence against Ukrainian civilians during those operations. The case prompted the Ministry of Defense to promote the officer after details of these actions became public, illustrating how sanctions can intersect with questions of rank and accountability. (EU Official Bulletin)
Ukrainian authorities have alleged that members of the unit engaged in acts including sexual violence and the targeting of civilians. The EU regards these incidents as part of a larger pattern of serious human rights violations, including systematic abuses in areas under occupation. The findings emphasize the responsibility of senior leaders for the actions of forces under their command, and they support accountability measures aimed at ending impunity. (EU Official Journal)
Attack on protesters in Moscow
The newest sanctions also name two senior Moscow police officials: a senior colonel and a police officer. They are cited for arbitrary detention and torture of women who protested the war in Ukraine in March 2022. The decision details how victims were beaten, deprived of air with plastic bags, and subjected to prolonged physical and verbal abuse. It also notes that arrests and detentions were authorized by the acting head of a police station at the time, with subsequent abuses attributed to the leadership on duty. The EU frames these actions as serious human rights violations rooted in state violence. (EU Official Journal)
The EU’s human rights sanctions regime, first introduced in December 2020, is invoked to punish crimes including sexual violence against women in conflict zones. The package extends beyond the Russian forces to include leaders in other countries, reflecting a broader attempt to hold accountable those responsible for grave crimes. The sanctions target a range of actors, including military and security leaders as well as other officials tied to patterns of abuses in conflict settings. (EU Official Journal)
As with all sanctioned individuals and entities, entry into EU territory is prohibited and assets are frozen, sending a clear message that violence against civilians carries consequences. The EU reiterates its commitment to fighting violence against women and ensuring accountability for the perpetrators. The statement underscores the goal of strengthening protections and support for survivors while pursuing justice for crimes committed in Ukraine and related contexts. (EU Officials)