In response to the growing unrest in Ukraine, mid-March 2014 many governments launched sanctions against individuals and companies that are viewed as having direct involvement in destabilizing the situation. The 2014 Crimean crisis, part of the unrest, and the ensuing Russian military intervention there led some governments in Europe and North America to target Russian and pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians, officers and businessmen. As the unrest expanded into parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, the scope of the sanctions increased. The Russian government responded in kind, with sanctions against some Canadian, American, and EU individuals. The following list represents those who have been sanctioned.
As of 13 April, following Canadian,European Union and United States sanctions, alongside dozens of individuals, two companies were also listed. Albania, Iceland and Montenegro on 11 April announced that they would align themselves to the sanctions adopted by the EU on 17 March. On 28 April, the US expanded its sanctions to include 17 Russian companies, mostly affiliated with the aforementioned individuals. The US actions were followed by actions by Japan, Canada,Australia,New Zealand, and the EU. The EU furthermore has instructed the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to suspend the signature of new financing operations in Russia. On 25 July, the EU again expanded its sanctions to an additional 15 individuals and 18 entities, followed by an additional 8 individuals and 3 entities on 30 July. On 29 November, an additional 13 individuals (and 5 entities) were added to the EU sanctions list. In February 2015, EU banned 19 more individuals and 9 entities.