23 Officials Added to Ukraine Sanctions

Summary#

These final amendments add 23 people to the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations. The changes, registered on September 29, 2022 and published on October 12, 2022, put those people under Canada’s existing sanctions measures (a broad ban on dealing with them).

What it does#

• Adds 23 named individuals — described as so‑called senior officials in the Russian‑occupied areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — to Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations.
• Prohibits people in Canada and Canadians abroad from dealing in the property of, transacting with, providing services to, or otherwise making goods available to those listed individuals.
• The listed names will be added to the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List so banks and other institutions can screen for them.
• Enforcement responsibilities are noted for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
• Penalties for knowingly breaking these rules include, on summary conviction, a fine up to $25,000 or imprisonment up to 1 year, or both; on indictment, imprisonment up to 5 years.
• These regulations come into force on the date of registration (September 29, 2022) and were applied before formal publication.

Who's affected#

• The 23 individuals who were added to the sanctions list.
• People and organizations in Canada, and Canadians abroad, who might otherwise do business with those individuals.
• Banks and other financial institutions that must screen for and block transactions involving listed people.
• Businesses that might seek permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities could face extra paperwork or restrictions (the government says this impact is likely small).
• It is unclear how many of the newly listed individuals actually have financial or business ties to Canada; the government says those links are probably limited.

Why it matters#

• In practical terms, the measures freeze any assets the listed people have in Canada and block them from using the Canadian financial system or Canadian services.
• The move is part of Canada’s broader response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine; it aligns Canada with allied sanctions and signals political and economic pressure.
• For most members of the public the effect will be indirect. The biggest real‑world impact is on banks, some businesses, and anyone who might unknowingly try to do business with a listed individual — they must stop or face penalties.