Tokyo: Japan has sanctioned 15 Russian persons and nine new entities in connection with the military action in Ukraine, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova is among those sanctioned, as are four deputy defence ministers: Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Aleksey Krivoruchko, Timur Ivanov, and Dmitry Bulgakov.

The Japanese sanctions also targeted Russian defence companies such as  Rosoboronexport, Russian Helicopters, and the United Aircraft Corporation.

On February 24, Russia launched a military intervention in Ukraine to support the people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Western countries have vehemently condemned the operation, describing it as an invasion, and have put heavy sanctions on Russia.

After months of massing soldiers at its borders, Russia has launched an invasion of Ukraine. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the military action ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 amounts to a full-fledged invasion.  On both sides, casualties are piling up. Rising geopolitical risk and volatile energy and financial markets are causing ripple effects well beyond Europe.

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