EU to sanction 11 more people over Ukraine

Ambassadors of European Union countries have decided to add 11 new names to the sanctions list over the crisis in Ukraine, an EU source says.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that the decision, which was made by the ambassadors on Wednesday, would be implemented through formal written procedure by the end of this week.

She did not disclose the names of those sanctioned.

The United States and the EU accuse Moscow of fueling the crisis in Ukraine. Russia rejects the claim.

The EU has already imposed a number of sanctions against Russian, Crimean and other pro-Russia figures. The restrictions were imposed after a decision by Ukraine’s then autonomous region of Crimea to rejoin the Russian Federation in March. More than 60 individuals and two companies are listed on the bans list.

Ukraine’s mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions have been the scene of deadly clashes between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian army since the government in Kiev launched military operations in mid-April in a bid to crush the protests there.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, which has also forced tens of thousands to escape to Russia.