The European Union has added to the sanctions list the Russian paramilitary group Wagner group of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the associated news agency RIA FAN.
Sanctions were imposed on Prigozhin himself in April last year, the BBC reports.
According to a report published on the EU's official portal, the Wagner PMC played a leading role in the storming of the Ukrainian cities of Soledar and Bakhmut, is generally active in the war, and is therefore responsible for "supporting actions that threaten the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine."
Registered in St. Petersburg, the Federal News Agency LLC (RIA FAN) is part of the Russian media group Patriot, whose board of trustees is officially headed by Prigozhin.
The outlet is engaged in pro-government propaganda and disinformation about Russia's war against Ukraine, according to the sanctions notice. In addition, RIA FAN promotes the Wagner Group.
Background. As reported, the leaked documents from the Pentagon showed the depth of US intelligence penetration into the Russian Defense Ministry and the Wagner group.