The European Union on Friday imposed sanctions on a Russian corporate executive and five companies that produce drones being used in Moscow’s war against neighboring Ukraine.
The EU’s latest round of financial and travel restrictions follows a wave of combined missile and drone attacks in Kyiv, Ukraine, this month that killed at least 17 people and injured dozens more, officials said.
The sanctioned businesses are part of the ABS Electro group of companies, which develops and manufactures electronic components needed for drone warfare.
“These entities contribute to the development of systems which enhance the capacity of Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles — such as the Shahed and Geran type drones — by increasing their resistance against electronic warfare,” EU officials said in a statement.
Along with its drone work, ABS Electro companies produce automated control systems for the Russian energy sector, which provides a substantial source of revenue to the Kremlin.
Also, the EU said it was sanctioning ABS Electro Chair Irina Kharisova, who serves as a director of several companies on the list.
The sanctions will result in a freezing of assets and a travel ban to EU countries, officials said.
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