BRUSSELS, Feb  25, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - New EU sanctions over Russia's war in 
Ukraine adopted on Saturday target 121 individuals and entities, including 
Iranian drone manufacturers, officials said.

 The measures, agreed late Friday ahead of Saturday's formal adoption, are 
the 10th round of European Union sanctions aimed at undercutting Russia's 
finances and military supplies used in its invasion that started a year ago.

 They echo sanctions announced Friday by the United States and by Britain, 

and follow up on a G7 statement that warned of penalties for any country 
abetting Russia in its war.

 The successive round of EU measures are "the most far-reaching sanctions 
ever -- depleting Russia's war arsenal and biting deep into its economy," 
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said.

"We are also turning up the pressure on those trying to circumvent our 
sanctions."

  The latest EU sanctions target an additional 96 Russian entities -- meaning 
businesses or state agencies -- including another three Russian banks, 
according to an EU statement.

 Seven Iranian entities are included this round, all manufacturers of 
self-exploding drones Russia has been using to strike Ukrainian targets 
including infrastructure and residential buildings.

An export ban on industrial goods to Russia is expanded to include dual-use 
items like electronics, specialised vehicles, machine parts, spare parts for 
trucks and jet engines, antennae, cranes, drones, rare earth materials, 
electronic circuits and thermal cameras.

 Trade in those goods, which battlefield evidence suggests Moscow is using 
for its war, amount to more than 11 billion euros ($12 billion), according to 
EU officials.  

 Sanctions on Russia's propaganda outlets were stepped up, with moves to 
suspend the broadcasting licences of the Arabic outlets of state-controlled 
media groups RT and Sputnik, which are already banned in Europe.

 And the measures required EU member states to make more detailed reporting 
on assets seized from sanctioned wealthy Russians supporting the Kremlin, and 
frozen Russia Central Bank funds.

 EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said a total 121 entities and 
individuals were on the latest sanctions list, details of which were expected 
later Saturday when they were to be published in the European Union's official 
gazette.

  Being on the list means an asset freeze in the EU and a visa ban. 

 Borrell said the latest round also targets "those responsible for the 
deportation and forced adoption of at least 6,000 Ukrainian children" in 
violation of international law.

 "We will continue to increase pressure on Russia -- and we will do it for 
as long as needed, until Ukraine is liberated from the brutal Russian 
aggression," he said.