The European Union has imposed sanctions on 11 Russian nationals and five Russian companies, according to materials published by the EU.
The list includes VK and its subsidiary Communication Platform, the developer of the “national” messenger Max. The EU said both companies provide the Russian authorities with technological support used in repression against civil society and the opposition.
The sanctions also target VAS Experts, Norsi-Trans, and Citadel. According to the EU, these companies develop software and equipment for SORM, Russia’s system for lawful interception. Restrictions were also imposed on Communication Platform CEO Elena Bagudina, VAS Experts owner Dmitry Gachko, Norsi-Trans executive director Sergey Ovchinnikov, and Citadel head Mikhail Fomin.
The sanctions list further includes Alexander Gnutov, head of Penal Colony No. 10 in Mordovia, five of his deputies, and the head of Medical Unit No. 13, Galina Mokshanova. EU representatives said the colony holds hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians taken from occupied territories of Ukraine, while former detainees have reported torture there.
What is known about Penal Colony No. 10
According to the BBC Russian Service, a camp for Ukrainian POWs has operated on the grounds of Penal Colony No. 10 in the settlement of Udarny since early 2023. Six former detainees released in prisoner exchanges told journalists they had been subjected to systematic abuse, including beatings with plastic pipes, dog attacks, and being forced to stand motionless for hours.
The former prisoners said a prison medic known as “Doctor Evil” took part in the torture by first listening to complaints and then using a stun gun on the area in pain. The Ukrainian investigative project Schemes identified him as Ilya Sorokin.
At the same time, the EU and the United Kingdom announced sanctions against 24 people and companies that Western authorities believe were involved in cyberattacks on the infrastructure of EU member states and their partners, including Ukraine. Those listed include GRU officers Vyacheslav Stafeyev, Ivan Senin, and Ivan Kasyanenko, ten employees of the company that owns the pro-war Z-channel Rybar, and the firm Impuls. London and Brussels also said they consider the FSB’s 16th Center responsible for a cyberattack on Polish energy infrastructure.