New Zealand imposes new sanctions against russia because of cyber attacks on Ukraine

New Zealand has announced new sanctions against russia: against those responsible for cyberattacks on Ukraine

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said this in a statement, Rubryka reports.

"Aotearoa New Zealand continues to unequivocally condemn Russia's unjustified and illegal attack on Ukraine," Mahuta said.

"President Putin's propaganda machine is in full swing, spreading lies and false information to justify Russia's illegal invasion. 

Today's announcement reflects our complete rejection of Putin's narrative and his attempts to mislead the international community," she added.

This round of sanctions is aimed at 8 people and organizations involved in putin's disinformation campaign, as well as cyberattacks on Ukraine.

"It builds on New Zealand's earlier sanctions targeting propagandists, and expands our sanctions list to include a notorious 'troll farm,' the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Defence, and others," the ministry said.

"Alongside Russia's military invasion, Putin is using the digital space as a weapon in his callous war against Ukraine. Ukrainians have been subject to relentless cyber attacks by Russia in an attempt to further degrade their infrastructure and disrupt their lives.

Today's sanctions are our first to target Russia's malicious cyber activity, and reflect our commitment to responding to Putin's aggression across all fronts," Mahuta said.

The sanctions covered:

• official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Igor Konashenkov,
• President of the Red Star Media Holding Aleksei Pimanov,
• co-founder of the Crimean news agency NewsFront Mikhail Synelin,
• Oleg Dobrodeev, General Director of VGTRK.

Also, the list includes:

• 85th Main Center of the Special Service of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Federation;
• "Main Center for Special Technologies";
• "Internet Research Agency";
• Chief of Military Intelligence of the Russian Federation Igor Kostyukov.

Earlier, New Zealand announced new sanctions against Russia's largest banks and financial institutions as part of the "government's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine."

New Zealand has also imposed additional sanctions against Russian politicians and defense agencies "that support Putin's actions in Ukraine."