In line with a decision of the European Council dated July 16 and a resolution of the Foreign Affairs Council dated July 22, the EU Council decided on Friday to reinforce EU sanctions in view of the situation in Ukraine, reads a statement posted on the organization's Web site.

The EU Council added to the sanctions list 15 individuals and 18 companies responsible for actions undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, the document said.

Thus, the Council endorsed the decision passed at the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU member states on Thursday.

A travel ban and assets freeze will be applied to these 15 additional persons and 18 new entities.

Thus, the number of individuals subject to restrictive measures over the situation in Ukraine totals 87, that of legal entities to 20.

The EU Council also extended the designation criteria for imposing asset freezes and visa bans on persons and entities that actively support or are benefiting from the Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilization of Eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions will enter into force after their publication in the EU Official Journal on July 25.