MOSCOW (Shahid Ghuman): Switzerland has expanded the scope of its sanctions against Russia, following the European Union's lead, and announced an additional 45 companies and entities and nine individuals being added to its list.
According to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the new sanctions will take effect at 11pm local time on August 11.
The nine individuals being added to the sanctions list for the first time include Oleg Yevtushenko, executive director of Russia's state-owned defence and industrial corporation Rostec; Aleksei Rakhmanov, former head of United Shipbuilding Corporation; and businessman Takhir Garayev.
Swiss authorities said these sanctions were being imposed on the individuals over their links to Russia's defence industry and its so-called "shadow fleet."
The 45 organisations targeted by the new sanctions are reportedly involved in the production of drones, military electronics and the supply of various components.
The European Union had already imposed similar sanctions on these entities since June 15.