TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Japan on Friday tightened sanctions against Russia following its latest wave of missile attacks in Ukraine, adding goods to an export ban list and freezing the assets of Russian officials and entities.
The decision comes after Russia launched missile attacks in Ukraine, killing at least 11 people on Thursday, following a pledge by Germany and the United States to provide tanks that could help Ukraine counter any new Russian offensive.
“Given the situation around Ukraine and to contribute to international efforts to secure peace, Japan will enforce export bans in line with other major countries,” the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Commerce said. Industry in a press release.
Among the new sanctions, Japan will ban shipments of items to 49 organizations in Russia from Feb. 3 that could be used to boost its military capacity.
These will include products ranging from water cannons, gas exploration equipment and semiconductor equipment to vaccines, X-ray inspection equipment, explosives and robots, the ministry said.
Japan will also freeze the assets of three entities and 22 people in Russia, including airline JSC Irkut Corp, surface-to-air missile maker MMZ Avangard, Deputy Defense Minister Mikhail Mizintsev and Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko, as well as 14 pro-Moscow people. linked to the «annexation» of parts of the south-eastern region of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned of an unspecified impact on relations with an «unfriendly» Japan.
«Japan, from the very beginning of the situation, took its place in the circle of hostile countries. Inevitably, there will be consequences for bilateral relations,» Peskov told reporters.
Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Tim Kelly; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Robert Birsel
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