Australia sanctions Russia steel magnate as Penny Wong reiterates support for Ukraine

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has met her Ukrainian counterpart in New York, where a request for further Australian military assistance was made.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has signed a sanctions instrument against Russian steel magnate Alexander Abramov last week and it was listed on the legislation register on Wednesday morning. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS

Key Points

• Australia has imposed sanctioned Russian steel magnate Alexander Abramov.
• A sanctions instrument was signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong last week.

Australia has sanctioned the Russian co-founder of a steel and mining company, Alexander Abramov.

The billionaire was initially listed as one of 67 Russian oligarchs sanctioned by Australia in April before he launched legal action against Foreign Minister Penny Wong, arguing the sanctions damaged his reputation.

A sanctions instrument was signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong last week but listed on the legislation register on Wednesday morning.

The sanctioning comes as Senator Wong met with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Mr Kuleba said he requested additional military assistance from Australia, including for Canberra to send more Bushmaster vehicles.

Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has also requested further artillery support in the form of up to 12 howitzers and ammunition.

Senator Wong said she expressed Australia's solidarity with Ukraine and admiration for the courage and sacrifice Ukrainians had shown.

"There is always more we can do and the government will continue to look at ways we can support them," she told reporters in New York.

Her comments come as Russia paves the way for the formal annexation of seized Ukrainian territory after nearly seven months of war.

Russian-backed officials in several areas it partially controls have called for referendums on joining Russia, a move supported by Moscow.

Which Australians has Russia sanctioned?

On Friday, Russia released a list of 41 Australians it deems to be feeding an "anti-Russian" agenda.

These individuals are all barred from entering the country.

Among them is SBS' chief international correspondent Ben Lewis, who has been covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine since tensions began rising this year.

Other journalists from the ABC, Nine News, Seven News, Ten News, Sky News, and The Australian were also included on the list, along with several academics, defence lobbyists, and local council members.

Friday's sanctions are in addition to the existing lengthy list released by Russia's foreign ministry in June, where 121 Australians were banned from entering the country.

With Reuters