Ukraine Sanctions Russian Telecoms

In a significant move amid ongoing conflicts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sanctioned ten Russian mobile operators and internet service providers. This decision, confirmed on June 13, 2026, follows a directive from Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council aimed at curtailing the communications capabilities utilized by the occupying forces within Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories.

The sanctioned entities, including prominent firms such as Lugansk Communications, Mobile Communication Systems, Amtel-Svyaz, and Satellite Communications Company, are accused of facilitating secure communications for Russian military operations and broadcasting Russian state narratives and disinformation. The measures extend to satellite communications operators and companies involved in internet provision across the occupied regions, directly supporting the Russian authorities.

According to Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor – Commissioner of the President for Sanctions Policy, the sanctions are designed to impede these companies’ operations globally, not just within the conflict zones. He emphasized that any business engagement in the occupied territories is considered unlawful under international law, rendering the involved companies as pariahs in the global financial system. Ukraine plans to collaborate with international partners to synchronize these sanctions, further isolating the targeted Russian firms.