New Zealand Targets Russia With 36th Package of Sanctions

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on Saturday a fresh round of sanctions targeting 33 individuals and entities involved in Russia's war against Ukraine. The restrictions primarily focus on cybercriminals, propagandists, and those implicated in the forced relocation and "re-education" of Ukrainian children. The package also aims to hinder support for Russia's military-industrial complex, Russian political figures, and actors from Iran and North Korea aiding the invasion.

Foreign Minister Peters emphasized, "Children should never be used as instruments of war," highlighting New Zealand's deep concern over the abduction and re-education of Ukrainian children through coercive state programs. The new sanctions prioritize malicious cyber actors and propagandists seeking to legitimize Moscow's war efforts.

"Cyber actors are increasingly being used to gather intelligence, enable sanctions evasion, and disrupt those who oppose Russia's aggression," Peters stated. The sanctions, announced on August 8, mark New Zealand's 36th round against Russia since the implementation of the Russia Sanctions Act in March 2022. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, New Zealand has sanctioned over 2,000 Russian individuals, entities, and vessels, along with implementing trade measures to exert economic pressure on Moscow.

The sanctions come following New Zealand's rejection of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) claims of espionage. In late July, the FSB accused a Russian citizen in Khabarovsk of passing sensitive information to New Zealand spies. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon declined to comment on intelligence matters, but the country's intelligence service noted the reliability concerns regarding Russian state media.

Foreign affairs experts in New Zealand suggested that the FSB's arrest was likely a politically motivated show trial aimed at damaging New Zealand's reputation.