Australia draws up ‘hit list’ of Russian officials linked to Vladimir Putin

Australia will enact “swift and severe” sanctions against Russia – with PM Scott Morrison revealing which of Putin’s allies will be targeted first.

Australia has drawn up a “hit list” of Russian officials and business leaders linked to President Vladimir Putin and the Ukraine crisis who will be targeted with severe financial sanctions.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has convened a meeting of the national security committee of cabinet to finalise “swift and severe” sanctions against Russia on Wednesday morning.

Emerging from the meeting just before 1pm, the Prime Minister confirmed he had spoken to the Governor-General to impose targeted financial sanctions and travel bans.

“The invasion of Ukraine has effectively already begun,’’ the Prime Minister said.

“As President Biden has also remarked, the invasion is unjustified. It’s unwarranted. It’s unprovoked. and it’s unacceptable.”

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Australia is drawing up a “hit list” of Russian officials and business leaders linked to President Vladimir Putin (Photo by Sergei GUNEYEV / Sputnik / AFP)

Mr Morrison said a full-scale invasion of Ukraine was now likely to occur within the next 24 hours.

“And there are even reports already of shelling and things of that nature, which could indicate that it has already begun,’’ he said.

Australia’s sanctions will target transport energy, telecommunications, oil, gas and mineral reserves.

“This is only the start of this process. We are working with our partners to identify additional individuals that will be subject to the sanctions,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“Initially, we will impose travel bans and targeted financial sanctions on eight members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation,’’ he said.

“Tomorrow morning, I will meet with the governor-general here in Sydney and I’ve spoken to him earlier today.

“These sanctions will significantly expand the scope of persons and I stress entities that Australia can list for targeted financial sanctions and travel bans is included, including to capture persons and entities or what is termed strategic and economic significance to Russia.”

The 12-member council includes: Medvedev Dmitry (Deputy Chairman), Mishustin Mikhail (Prime Minister), Matviyenko Valentina (Chairwoman), Naryshkin Sergei (Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service), Volodin Vyacheslav (State Duma Speaker), Vaino Anton (Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office), Ivanov Sergei (Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport), Patrushev Nikolai (Secretary), Shoigu Sergei (Defence Minister), Lavrov Sergei (Foreign Minister), Kolokoltsev Vladimir (Interior Minister) and Bortnikov Alexander (Director of the Federal Security Service).

It’s unclear which eight members will be Australia.

Scott Morrison said Russia was behaving like a “thug and a bully”, and said a full-scale invasion of Ukraine was likely to occur within the next 24 hours. (Photo by Steven SAPHORE / AFP)

The Prime Minister said Russia was behaving like a “thug and a bully.”

“We can’t have some suggestion that Russia has some just cause here that they’re prosecuting,’’ he said.

“They’re behaving like thugs and bullies, and they should be called out as thugs and bullies.

“And quite sadly, and tragically, the sheer force of that violence of a thug and bully is about to be impacted upon the people of Ukraine.

“Now, it’s the last stage before a full invasion. and let’s hope and pray that does not happen. All the signs are that once they build a peak of military preparedness to invade, then it is only a matter of time.”

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced targeted sanctions against five banks and three individuals accused of financing firms in Crimea or Russia’s defence sector.

“We want to stop Russian companies from being able to raise funds in sterling or, indeed, in dollars,” Mr Johnson said.

“We want them to stop raising funds on UK markets and we want to strip away the veil that conceals the ownership of property in this country.”

Australia’s sanctions are also likely to ensure that if Russian investors with links to President Putin are locked out of London that they cannot find a safe haven in Australia.

Millions of dollars in Russian money is tied up in London real estate, although the links in Australia are less clear.

“There has been too much dirty Russian money sloshing around London as it is. We’re known as Londongrad,” the UK’s Shadow Attorney-General, Emily Thornberry, said.

US President Joe Biden is also announcing sanctions, confirming: “We are co-ordinating with allies and partners on that ­announcement”.

Australian diplomats were ordered to leave Ukraine on Tuesday to ensure their safety.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has described President Putin’s Ukraine declaration as invalid under international law insisting the Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain independent states.

“Along with our partners, we are prepared to announce swift and severe sanctions that would target key Russian individuals and entities responsible for undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said.

Australians in Ukraine are also being urged to leave.