Canada imposes fresh sanctions on Russia targeting missile tech and crypto enablers

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced on November 9, on the margins of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris, that Canada is imposing a fresh round of sanctions on Russia under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, listing an additional 38 entities and 24 individuals in a bid to degrade Russia's missile strike capacity and raise the cost of its war.

According to Global Affairs Canada, the measures target elements of Russia's defence industrial base involved in ballistic missile technology development, as well as actors involved in cyber activities. They also target financial enablers that sustain Russia's war economy, including crypto exchanges that help evade sanctions.

“Undermine Putin's capacity to strike Ukrainian cities”

“Canada is taking action to undermine Putin's capacity to strike Ukrainian cities with its missiles. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine and will continue to impose costs on Russia until it ends its aggression and respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Anand said in a statement. The statement said Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine and relies on sanctions-evasion networks to sustain its military operations, and that the new measures will help constrain its capacity to strike civilian targets.

Announced a night after a major attack on Kyiv

The announcement came a night after Russia launched a large-scale air assault on Ukraine, firing 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones at Kyiv and other areas, killing at least two people and wounding several others, hitting Kyiv's Northern Bridge and damaging energy facilities. Canada said it will continue, together with allies and partners, to increase pressure on those who enable Russia's war machine and to work toward a just and lasting peace consistent with the principles of the United Nations Charter.