Ukraine Sanctions 3 Chinese Companies Accused Of Being Involved In Iskander Missile Production

JAKARTA - Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies on the grounds of involvement in Iskander's missile production, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused China of supplying weapons to Russia.

China's foreign ministry has previously denied Zelenskyy's accusations of baseless accusations.

By maintaining close economic ties with Russia during Moscow's three-year war in Ukraine, China seeks to present an image of neutrality and denie any involvement in the war.

Zelenskyy's administration on Friday, April 18, published the latest list of sanctioned entities. The list, which also includes Russian companies, namely Beijing Aviation And Aerospace Xianghui Technology Co. Ltd, Rui Jin Machinery Co. Ltd, and Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Xining Co. Ltd, all explained registered in China.

Zelenskyy said Chinese companies subject to sanctions were involved in Russia's Iskander missile production. Russia widely uses nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missile systems in the conflict.

On Friday, Ukraine said the Iskander missile hit Kharkiv, a city in northern Ukraine, killing one person and injuring more than 100 people.

"Today, we have extended Ukraine's sanctions against nearly a hundred more entities - individuals and legal entities - most of whom are involved in the production of such missiles - the Iskander - as it attacked our Kharkiv," Zelenskyy said.

"Many of these entities are Russian, but unfortunately, some are from China too," he said.

Sanctions prohibit companies from doing business in Ukraine and freeze their assets there.

Ukraine exports $8 billion worth of goods to China in 2021, mostly raw materials and agricultural products, while imports from China are just under $11 billion, particularly in manufacturing goods, according to the Ukrainian government.

On Thursday, Zelenskyy told reporters in his government's Kyiv it had evidence of Chinese companies supplying artillery and powder to Russia, and Chinese entities made several weapons on Russian soil.

He did not provide any evidence for the statement.

A week earlier, Zelenskyy said Chinese nationals fought on the Russian side in the war with Ukraine, including two people who had occupied it.

A Chinese diplomat was summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to provide an explanation.

Ukrainian and US officials later said the men signed up on their own initiative to earn money.