Ukraine's Current Sanctions Landscape
By mid-June 2026, Ukraine’s State Register of Sanctions listed 23,135 individuals and entities. Among them, over 15,000 have faced asset freezes. Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice can file lawsuits to confiscate property when an asset freeze was imposed after May 24, 2022, and there is a justified threat to national security, sovereignty, or territorial integrity.
Parliament passed amendments to the sanctions legislation on May 24, 2022. A key requirement for the Ministry of Justice to initiate confiscation proceedings is that the asset freeze must have been applied after that date. On average, it takes the ministry several months to secure a court order approving asset seizure.
Examples of New Legal Provisions in Action
A notable case showcasing the use of these updated legal tools involves former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Criminal proceedings have been opened against him on charges of high treason, stemming from his public statements supporting Russia’s armed aggression.
'Take the case of Viktor Yanukovych. He is under criminal investigation for high treason. However, the criminal case investigates events that occurred much earlier, not in 2022. At the same time, after 2022, the ex-president made statements backing Russia’s armed aggression. That is why the Ministry of Justice went to court, and the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered the confiscation of movable and immovable property, as well as funds, belonging to the former president and his associates,' said Olena Vakulenko.
As part of sanctions enforcement, the State Property Fund plans to auction off a mansion belonging to singer Taisia Povaliy, which was seized for state revenue. Confiscated aircraft have been directly transferred to the Ministry of Defense by a Cabinet of Ministers decision. Since May 2026, the Ministry of Justice has initiated court proceedings against Mykola Azarov and his son Oleksiy to seize their assets. Mykola Azarov has been under Ukrainian sanctions since March 2021, with the latest extension in November 2023 lasting ten years. Oleksiy Azarov was added to the sanctions list in May 2025, with restrictions set to remain in place until 2035.
These developments signal an intensified push by Ukrainian authorities in the realm of sanctions and asset confiscation, forming a core part of the country’s strategy to safeguard national security and its economy. The cases involving Yanukovych and the Azarovs underscore that state agencies are prepared to deploy new legal instruments to combat corruption and external aggression. This could also shape Ukraine’s investment climate and help rebuild trust in state institutions among the international community.
As Ukraine intensifies its efforts to reclaim assets linked to former officials, the recent lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry against the former Prime Minister Azarov highlights the broader implications of the country's sanctions regime. This case not only underscores the legal mechanisms now in place but also reflects the ongoing commitment to addressing corruption and safeguarding national interests.