Sanctions and border cases before 14 February 2025

What had been reported by 14 February 2025 on sanctions and border disputes in Ukraine's region? Three items stood out in the days leading up to that date.

On 13 February 2025, President Zelensky introduced sanctions against several oligarchs and other individuals. The list included former president Petro Poroshenko, Viktor Medvedchuk, Kostyantyn Zhevago, Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov. They were targeted over suspected treason and assisting a terrorist organisation, including their alleged role in undermining national security through unfavourable business deals with Russia.

A separate set of measures came on 11 February 2025. Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States announced sanctions on a Russian bulletproof hosting services provider. The provider was accused of ignoring law enforcement requests. Two Russians who operate the network were also sanctioned.

The same day, the European Court of Human Rights said it would consider three cases involving irregular migrants who allege they were pushed back into Belarus from EU countries. The cases arose from the Belarus–European Union border crisis.

Together, the reports showed sanctions being used on several fronts: by Kyiv against prominent domestic figures, and by three Western governments against a Russian online infrastructure provider. The Strasbourg court's decision added a legal dimension to the migration dispute on the Belarusian border.