Effective sanctions against russia protect not only Ukraine but the entire free world from moscow’s military aggression.

This was the message delivered by Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, during a panel discussion titled “The Effectiveness of Sanctions: How Foreign Components Continue to Fuel russia’s Attacks on Ukraine”.

“Sanctions save lives — when they work. They help stop war crimes and halt russian aggression, not only against Ukraine. Weakening the technological capabilities of the aggressor state support Ukraine in defending itself, but also strengthening the global democratic community. It’s a safeguard for Europe and the free world,” Yusov stated.

The discussion took place at the Fair Play Conference on Expanding Sanctions Against russia, where Andrii Yusov served as moderator alongside experts from government agencies and NGOs focused on sanctions policy.

Yusov stressed that russia continues to seek ways to circumvent sanctions, which is why sanctions require ongoing refinement, enforcement, and international communication on moscow’s war crimes.

He also highlighted one of the key tools in this effort: the War & Sanctions portal, an open-source platform developed by the DIU that is continuously updated. The portal provides data on foreign-made components found in russian weaponry and maps routes used to bypass sanctions.

“The portal operates in real time. Together with our partners, we publish verified information about changes in russian armaments and the foreign components they contain. When we talk about sanctions, it may sound technical — serial numbers, parts lists, weapons specifications — but it’s fundamentally about stopping war crimes committed by russia’s occupying army,” Yusov emphasized.