Feb. 24, 2025, 4:01 p.m.
(Sergey Karyakin and Yuri Nimchenko. Collage Intent)
On the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union imposed new sanctions against the most ardent Putinists. Among them are two pseudo-senators from Crimea - Yuriy Nimchenko and traitor chess player Sergey Karyakin.
According to the EU press service, Sergei Karyakin is a senator of the Russian Federation Council, representing the illegally annexed Crimea since September 12, 2024. He used to be a chess grandmaster and was suspended because of his statements in support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. He traveled around the Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia and collected military supplies to support the Russian armed forces.
"For these actions, Karyakin was awarded the Russian Federation's Medal for Merit to the Fatherland," the statement said.
Karjakin was born in Simferopol, but changed his citizenship to Russian in 2009. In 2014, the chess player supported the occupation of Crimea and part of Donbas by the Russian military. In March 2022, FIDE disqualified Karjakin for six months due to his active pro-war position, but did not extend the sanctions.
Another pseudo-senator who was sanctioned is Yuriy Nimchenko. Since September 12, 2024, he has been a member of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security. He participated in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, fought as a tanker, for which the President of the Russian Federation awarded him the title of "Hero of Russia."
"In this position, Nimchenko supports and implements actions and policies that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine," the EU said.
The new sanctions list also includes 48 individuals, including comedian Mykhailo Galustyan and former member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Derkach.
On the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States imposed sanctions on a number of Russian figures and Ukrainian collaborators. The updated list includes Natalia Desyatova, who was put in charge of the Kherson Regional Art Museum by the Russians.
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