Russia takes action against Ukrainian citizens, companies for 'unfriendly actions'

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on Thursday introducing special economic measures against 322 Ukrainian citizens and 68 companies amid a prolonged row between Moscow and Kiev.

The sanctions, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in October, included freezing non-cash funds, non-documentary securities and property in Russia and banning the transfer of funds (withdrawal of capital) outside Russia, Tass news agency reported.

The sanctions targeted Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's elder son Alexei, Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov, Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy and Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak among other key ministers and important businessmen.

The blacklist also included EastOne Group and Toledo Mining Corporation registered in Britain and Ferrexpo registered in Switzerland.

"The decree is aimed at countering unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and legal entities on the part of Ukraine and at lifting restrictions imposed earlier by the Ukrainian side on these persons, as well as normalizing bilateral relations," said a government statement.

The Russian government said it could lift the sanctions if Ukraine cancels its own restrictive measures against Russia.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have deteriorated since early 2014 over Crimea and armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia since then.