Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1906 of 6 October 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1906of 6 October 2022implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of UkraineTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of UkraineOJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 6., and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,Whereas:(1)On 17 March 2014, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 269/2014.(2)The Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.(3)On 21 September 2022, notwithstanding numerous calls by the international community on the Russian Federation to immediately stop its military aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation decided to further escalate its aggression against Ukraine by supporting the organisation of illegal "referenda" in the parts of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions that are currently occupied by the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation also further escalated its aggression against Ukraine by announcing a mobilisation in the Russian Federation and by again threatening to use weapons of mass destruction.(4)On 28 September 2022, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the "High Representative") issued a declaration on behalf of the Union condemning in the strongest possible terms the illegal sham "referenda" conducted in parts of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine currently and partially occupied by Russia. The High Representative also declared that the Union does not and will never recognise those illegal sham "referenda" and their falsified outcome, nor any decision taken on the basis of this outcome, and urged all Members of the United Nations to do the same. By organising those illegal sham "referenda", Russia aimed to change by force the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine, which constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Charter of the United Nations (the "UN Charter"). The High Representative also indicated that all those involved in organising those illegal sham "referenda" as well as those responsible for other violations of international law in Ukraine will be held accountable and that additional restrictive measures against Russia will be brought forward in this regard. The High Representative recalled that the Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and demands that Russia immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine. The High Representative further declared that the Union and its Member States will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to this end, as long as necessary.(5)On 30 September 2022, the members of the European Council adopted a statement in which they firmly rejected and unequivocally condemned the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kherson Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. By wilfully undermining the rules-based international order and blatantly violating the fundamental rights of Ukraine to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, core principles as enshrined in the UN Charter and international law, Russia is putting global security at risk. The members of the European Council stated that they do not and will never recognise the illegal "referenda" that Russia has engineered as a pretext for this further violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor their falsified and illegal results. They declared that they will never recognise the illegal annexation, that those decisions are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever and that Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia are Ukraine. They called on all States and international organisations to unequivocally reject the illegal annexation and recalled that Ukraine is exercising its legitimate right to defend itself against the Russian aggression to regain full control of its territory and has the right to liberate occupied territories within its internationally recognised borders. The members of the European Council stated that they will strengthen the Union’s restrictive measures countering Russia’s illegal actions and further increase pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression.(6)In view of the gravity of the situation, the Council considers that 30 persons and seven entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 269/2014.(7)Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: