Zelensky Announces New Sanctions Against Fugitive Ex-Party of Regions MP Ivanyushchenko

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on August 20 introducing new sanctions packages against a number of individuals. Among those named was Yuriy Ivanyushchenko, a former member of parliament from the now-banned Party of Regions.

Zelensky said he had signed several sanctions packages — targeting Russia's military-industrial complex as well as individuals who, in various ways, have become part of Russia's way of life and maintain ties with the country despite the ongoing war. He specified that this includes collaborators in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories, as well as former Ukrainian political figures now living somewhere in Europe who, through documents, connections and loyalty, remain tied to Russia.

Background

In March this year, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) asked the president and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to initiate sanctions against Ivanyushchenko, a suspect in a case involving land fraud at the "Stolychnyi" market. However, the SBU said at the time that NABU's request lacked sufficient evidence of harm.

In September 2025, NABU placed Ivanyushchenko on a wanted list over the state land fraud case. Ukrainska Pravda later located him in Monaco as part of an investigation into participants of the "Midas" operation on the French Riviera — a film crew captured him at the Monte-Carlo Bay hotel complex, where he was seen meeting his business partner Ivan Avramov in the courtyard.