The European Union imposed sanctions on 19 Chinese companies on Monday (June 24) for their alleged support to Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. The list published in the Official Journal of the European Union includes several companies based in Hong Kong and two satellite industry giants from mainland China.
Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the EU on Monday imposed its 14th round of sanctions on Russia, adding 61 companies to the list accused of directly supporting the “Russian military-industrial complex” in the Ukraine conflict, bringing the total number of companies on the list to 675.
Once placed on the EU entity list, these companies face strict restrictions on selling “dual-use goods and technologies for military and civilian purposes” that can be used to “enhance Russian defense and security sectors”.
The West accuses China of supporting Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, but Beijing denies such claims.
Two Chinese satellite industry companies newly added to the entity list are accused of selling satellites and satellite images to the Russian Wagner Group.
According to a investigation by Agence France-Presse last October, Wagner Group signed a contract worth over $30 million with the Chinese company Beijing Yunze Technology Co Ltd in November 2022, to purchase two satellites and use their images, while the Russian invasion of Ukraine had been ongoing for over six months. The Wagner Group, led by founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, plays a significant role on the battlefield.
The two high-resolution satellites are products of the Chinese satellite company Chang Guang Satellite Technology, which is also among the entities sanctioned by the EU.
Another Chinese entity added on Monday is Head Aerospace Technology based in Beijing. This company also sells satellite images and was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023 for providing data to the Wagner Group.
Although China has not directly supplied weapons to Russia, the U.S. and Europe accuse it of selling parts and equipment to the Russian military-industrial complex.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian dismissed these allegations as “unfounded claims”.
Of the 61 entities added to the EU list on Monday, Russian companies account for about half. Apart from the 19 Chinese enterprises, there were also nine new Turkish companies, two Kyrgyz companies, one Indian company, one Kazakh company, and one company from the United Arab Emirates.
In the latest round of sanctions, the EU also imposed restrictive measures on 69 individuals and 47 entities. These individuals and entities will have their assets frozen, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with funds. Natural persons also face travel restrictions and are barred from entering EU territory or transiting through it.
The Official Journal of the European Union stated that over 2,200 individuals and entities are currently subject to the EU’s restrictive measures taken against actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.