Australia ramps up Russia sanctions, set to target Putin

[Sydney] Australia ramped up sanctions against Russia on Saturday (Feb 26) for invading Ukraine, targeting oligarchs and members of parliament while preparing to join allies in directly punishing President Vladimir Putin.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was imposing financial sanctions on eight oligarchs close to Putin and on the 339 members of parliament who were the "facilitators" of the attack.

Key figures in the Belarussian government were also being sanctioned for "abetting the invasion", she told reporters.

Payne said she was seeking advice to enable Australia to join allies in sanctioning Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

"It is an exceptional step to sanction leaders but this is an exceptional situation," she said.

Australia had previously announced sanctions on 8 of Putin's top security advisors, 25 individuals, 4 military equipment entities and 4 financial institutions.

AFP