President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine signed a new decree to punish people and companies helping Russia make drones. These are not just any drones — they are the same flying machines being used in large numbers to attack Ukrainian cities, destroy buildings, and target power stations.
The new move puts sanctions on 56 people and 55 companies from Russia, China, and Belarus. These companies and individuals are believed to be involved in the design, production, or supply of parts for drones that the Russian military uses.
Sanctions are like strong restrictions or punishments. They stop these companies and people from doing business in Ukraine. They also can’t take their money out of the country. If they have any property or assets in Ukraine, those are now frozen. Plus, they are banned from taking part in any deals with the Ukrainian government, including defense or public contracts. They also cannot visit or enter Ukraine.
The reason for this decision is clear. Russia has increased the number of drones flying into Ukraine. Recently, Russia has launched between 400 and 500 drones per night. These attacks usually happen overnight and often target homes and important infrastructure like electricity plants.
Sanctions Target Key Drone Companies
The sanctions are aimed at those helping Russia build and use deadly drones. These include several companies in Russia, six businesses in China, and one in Belarus. Many of them are involved in creating well-known Russian drones such as the Geran, Orlan-10, SuperCam, and FPV (First Person View) drones. These flying machines are used by the Russian military for both spying and attacks.
Among the newly sanctioned groups is a Belarusian factory called the Precision Electromechanics Plant. There are also Chinese businesses located in Hong Kong and in the Chinese provinces of Shandong and Shenzhen. These companies have been accused of helping supply parts or technology for making drones.
Also on the list are companies that sell equipment to a Russian firm called Alabuga Machinery. This company makes machine parts and gear systems that help build drones. Another major name mentioned is Kronshtadt JSC — a Russian company known for producing Banderol drones, which are powerful UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) with jet engines. The people who help import parts for Kronshtadt’s operations are also facing Ukrainian sanctions.
By targeting these businesses and individuals, Ukraine hopes to weaken the supply chain that allows Russia to build and launch drones against Ukrainian cities.
How Drones Are Changing the Conflict
Drones have become one of the most used tools in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides use them heavily. These flying machines can spy from the sky, carry explosives, and even fight other drones.
Russia has relied more and more on drones to carry out nighttime attacks. These attacks are hard to stop because drones fly low and fast, sometimes in large groups. They have been used to strike power plants, blow up buildings, and scare civilians.
To fight back, Ukraine uses a mix of air defense systems, electronic jammers, and even their own drones to try and shoot down or crash the Russian ones. It’s like a battle in the sky every night.
Ukraine’s government believes that by punishing the people and companies helping Russia build these drones, they can make it harder for Russia to continue its attacks.
These sanctions show that Ukraine is not just defending itself on the battlefield, but also taking action off the battlefield — through legal and financial means — to protect its people.