EU sanctions hit Russian minister, senior Putin adviser and legislators

The measures also hit banks that finance Russia’s armed forces

Russian President Vladimir Putin. File Picture: Ding Haitao/Xinhua via AP

European Union sanctions against Russia have taken effect, targeting senior government officials, several companies and hundreds of legislators who voted in favour of recognising the independence of separatist parts of south-east Ukraine.

The sanctions, mostly a freeze on the assets of those listed and a ban on them traveling in the 27-nation EU, are the first steps in a planned series of retaliatory measures designed to be ramped up if Russian President Vladimir Putin launches an attack or pushes troops deeper into Ukraine.