Russian-Ukraine war: Kyiv sanctions Russian artists, public figures

Ukraine has now placed several Russian artists and public figures in major cultural industries on a sanctions list as the war continues for more than 10 months. Dozens of individuals will see their assets in Ukraine frozen.

In a decree published by the Ukrainian presidential office on Saturday, Kyiv has sanctioned 118 artists, including three Ukrainians. Some of the individuals are big stars in the film, opera, and pop music industries. Russia’s TASS news outlet said the individuals sanctioned will have their assets in Ukraine frozen and the penalties will be in effect for 100 years.

Among those who have been sanctioned was Vienna-based Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko, who was criticized for her close ties to the Kremlin and for being too uncritical of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. In February last year, Netrebko spoke out against the war in Ukraine but added that forcing artists to either speak up and denounce “their homeland is not right.”

Russian pop star Philipp Kirkorov, and actor and director Nikita Mikhalkov, who won awards in both the Venice and Cannes film festivals, were also sanctioned.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also revoked the citizenship of 13 clergy members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the end of December, according to local media. The identities of the clergy members were not disclosed.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church eventually broke away from Moscow following the invasion in February last year as Kyiv sees the links between the Orthodox Church to Russia as a security threat.

Meanwhile, Kyiv refuted Russia’s claim that its retaliatory strike killed hundreds of Russian troops following Ukraine’s deadly strike that killed dozens of Russian troops last week. Ukraine’s military spokesman in the eastern region said Russia’s retaliatory strikes only damaged civilian infrastructure in Kramatorsk.

“The armed forces of Ukraine weren’t affected,” said spokesperson Serhiy Cherevaty.

Earlier on Sunday, Donetsk regional administration head Pavlo Kyrylenko had similar comments that there were no casualties on the strikes in Kramatorsk.

Kyrylenko said that an “educational institution, an industrial facility, and a garage cooperative” were destroyed by Russia’s strikes in the region. Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko said two school buildings and eight apartments were damaged.

Two Reuters reporters visited the two college dormitories Russia alleged that housed Ukrainian soldiers but did not find signs of casualties.