Canada Issues New Russia Sanctions, Seizes Cargo Plane

Canada announced a new set of Russia-related sanctions June 10, designating 24 people and 17 entities connected to Moscow’s “theft of Ukrainian cultural objects.” The sanctioned people include employees at Ukrainian museums who collaborate with Russia, and the sanctioned entities include newly created organizations in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, such as the “so-called ministries of education and culture.” Canada also sanctioned people and entities with ties to Ukrainian-based private military companies that are fighting for Russia.

Canada also seized a Russian-registered cargo aircraft at Toronto Pearson Airport, a plane believed to be owned by a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Volga-Dnepr Group, two entities sanctioned by Canada. The seizure is the first “physical asset seized” under the government’s new asset seizure and forfeiture authorities. “Should the asset ultimately be forfeited to the Crown,” the country said, “Canada will work with the Government of Ukraine on options to redistribute this asset to compensate victims of human rights abuses, restore international peace and security, or rebuild Ukraine.”