In 2023, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine made a decision to create the State Register of Sanctions (Law of Ukraine 3223-IX "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Application of Sanctions"). At that time, Ilona Khmeleva, the Secretary of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU), commented on this event, stating:
"One of the tools that should put an end to the war and compel Russia to abandon unlawful actions is sanctions. The aggressor has not changed its behavior. Therefore, sanctions have not achieved their main goal. Hence, the sanction policy needs to be strengthened, and the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to create the State Register of Sanctions is extremely important. It will facilitate international partners' access to information, update and automate data collection, processing, and uploading, ensure transparency in decision-making, eliminate any legal conflicts regarding personal data protection, and prevent legal challenges in this regard."
A recent Presidential Decree dated January 29, 2024, launched the operation of the State Register of Sanctions. According to information from the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC):
- The sanctions register was created to provide citizens with free public access to up-to-date and reliable information about entities subject to sanctions.
- It is an information and communication system that ensures the collection, accumulation, protection, accounting, display, processing, and provision of information about all subjects subject to sanctions. The registry is maintained by the Secretariat of the NSDC of Ukraine.
- The register contains information about 17,202 individuals and legal entities considered sanctioned.
- Sources of information for the Register include decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and court decisions on the application of sanctions.
- The data in the register is updated promptly. They are open and publicly accessible, except in cases provided by law.
The ESCU considers the creation and launch of the State Register of Sanctions a positive decision and plans to use it in its further work to more effectively increase sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation and companies cooperating with it.