Japan imposes new sanctions on Russian defense officials and arms export company

Japan said it would impose sanctions on 15 individuals and nine Russian organizations, including defense officials and state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport.

The sanctions, which include asset freezes, are the latest in a series of measures taken by Japan in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Japan has so far imposed sanctions on 76 individuals, seven banks and 12 other organizations in Russia, according to the Finance Ministry.

On Friday, the government identified Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova among the targets of sanctions, along with a number of manufacturers of military equipment, such as United Aircraft Corp., which manufactures combat aircraft.

Japan still has stakes in gas and oil projects on Russia’s Sakhalin island, after Shell and ExxonMobil pulled out.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida did not clarify the fate of Japan’s investments in these projects, as he stressed their importance to his country’s energy security, as well as his determination to keep pace with the sanctions imposed by the rest of the Group of Seven countries against Russia.