Ukraine to set up a working group to monitor compliance with sanctions

September 2, BPN. Ukraine’s Economic Security Bureau has urged the Ukrainian government to set up a working group to oversee compliance with sanctions against Russia and Belarus, the Bureau’s press office reported.

The group should be headed by economy ministry officials and include representatives from other ministries and security services. It will track changes of owners of Russian and Belarusian assets.

According to Vadym Melnyk, head of the Bureau, a joint coordinated effort by all agencies is needed to enforce sanctions against Russian and Belarusian businesses, whose activities represent a potential threat to Ukraine because of possible support for Russia’s military aggression.

On February 24, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk deny Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops and weapons to move freely through the country, use its airspace, refuel and store military equipment and attack Ukraine from its territory.

A 20,000-strong grouping of Russian forces crossed into Ukraine from Belarus at the outset of the war, Alaksandr Łukašenka told AFP in an interview on July 21. Russian troops retreated from northern Ukraine later.