Zelenskyy has frozen the assets of “Yura Yenakiivskyi”: what is now prohibited
20 August 23:54
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a decision by the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against Yuriy Ivanyushchenko, a former member of parliament from the Party of Regions. The restrictions include the freezing of assets, the suspension of commercial transactions, and a ban on the transfer of capital out of Ukraine.
The corresponding presidential decree No. 746/2026 was published on August 20, 2026, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The document took effect on the day it was published.
What sanctions have been imposed against Ivanyushchenko
The National Security and Defense Council endorsed the proposals of the Security Service of Ukraine regarding the application of personal economic and other restrictive measures.
The sanctions against Yuriy Ivanyushchenko include:
- asset freeze;
- revocation of Ukrainian state awards;
- a complete cessation of trade operations;
- a halt to the transit of resources, flights, and transportation through Ukrainian territory;
- prohibition on transferring capital out of the country;
- suspension of the fulfillment of economic and financial obligations;
- termination or suspension of licenses and other permits;
- other restrictions provided for by sanctions legislation.
The Cabinet of Ministers, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the National Bank, and the Commission on State Awards and Heraldry are responsible for ensuring compliance with this decision.
Ukraine will ask the EU and the U.S. to impose similar restrictions
The sanctions may not be limited to Ukraine alone. According to the decree, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must inform the European Union, the United States, and other states of the NSDC’s decision.
Ukrainian diplomats must also raise the issue of applying similar sanctions with international partners.
This could pose risks to Ivanyushchenko’s foreign assets and financial transactions if Ukraine’s restrictions are coordinated with other countries.
Why Ivanyushchenko Was Sanctioned
The Office of the President stated that companies linked to the former member of parliament operate in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Ukrainian authorities also point to Ivanyushchenko’s ties to representatives of the Russian criminal and business communities, as well as his repeated trips to Russia following the start of the full-scale invasion.
In addition to Ivanyushchenko, restrictions under this sanctions decision were imposed on high-ranking Russian officials, collaborators, and individuals who justify the armed aggression and occupation of Ukrainian territories.
NABU has twice requested sanctions
In March 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau appealed to the president and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) requesting that sanctions be imposed against Ivanyushchenko.
According to NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, the Bureau submitted the relevant request twice. After the first request, the SBU reported that it did not see sufficient grounds for sanctions, and NABU had not received a response to its second request at that time.
Ten days later, the situation changed: the president enacted a decision by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) stating that the proposals to impose restrictions had been submitted by the Security Service.
The Case Involving Over 160 Million Hryvnias Worth of Land
Yuriy Ivanyushchenko is a suspect in a case involving the alleged misappropriation and subsequent legalization of 18 hectares of state-owned land near a wholesale market in the suburbs of Kyiv. The market value of the plots is estimated at over 160 million hryvnias.
According to the NABU, during a corporate conflict surrounding the market, the land was allegedly divided into nine plots, transferred to predetermined individuals, and then, through a series of legal transactions, registered in the names of affiliated companies.
In September 2025, a warrant was issued for Ivanyushchenko’s arrest. He is charged with misappropriation of property through abuse of official position and the legalization of property obtained by criminal means.
No court verdict has been issued in this case. In accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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What Is Known About Ivanyushchenko’s Russian Passport
Journalists from the “Schemes” project reported that Ivanyushchenko allegedly obtained a Russian passport in 2004 in Rostov-on-Don.
According to investigators, the former lawmaker also had at least two Russian foreign passports and used them to travel to Russia. After February 24, 2022, journalists counted at least ten such visits.
In July 2026, Ivanyushchenko, who is wanted by NABU, was spotted at a luxury hotel in Monaco.
Who Is Yuriy Ivanyushchenko
Yuriy Ivanyushchenko was a member of the Ukrainian Parliament representing the “Party of Regions” and was considered one of Viktor Yanukovych’s most influential allies. In the media, he is also known as “Yura Yenakiivskyi.”
After the Revolution of Dignity, Ivanyushchenko left Ukraine. International sanctions had previously been imposed against him, but in 2017, the European Union lifted the restrictions after some of the criminal cases against him in Ukraine were closed.
The new Ukrainian sanctions do not constitute a conviction in criminal proceedings, but they significantly restrict the ability to use assets, conduct financial transactions, and engage in business activities within Ukrainian jurisdiction.
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