The Commonwealth has expanded its sanctions against Russia, to display more displeasure at the European giant’s actions in Ukraine.

The new restrictions “have come into force in response to Russia’s ongoing threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” according to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

The expanded sanctions include restrictions on the following activities:

  • the export to or import from Russia of arms and related materiel;
  • the export to Russia of certain items for use in petroleum exploration and production;
  • the export to Crimea and Sevastopol of certain items for use in the energy and minerals sector;
  • commercial dealing with certain capital financial market instruments issued by certain Russian state-owned entities; and
  • Australian investment in Crimea and Sevastopol related to infrastructure, transport, telecommunications, energy, oil, gas and minerals sectors.

The moves match those implemented by the European Union, Canada and the United States, and supplement financial sanctions and travel bans Australia imposed in June and September 2014.

More information on how to deal with the sanctions is available at DFAT’s website, here.