The Council of the European Union approved a legislative act on Friday for the year-long extension of restrictive measures on the Ukrainian citizens which the EU deems to be responsible for embezzling public funds, a European diplomat has told Interfax.

The Environment Council made the decision without holding debates, the source said.

EU ambassadors approved the decision on March 2.

The individualized sanctions were due to expire on March 6, 2016. The sanctions banned the blacklisted individuals from travelling into the EU and froze their assets in European banks. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his elder son, Oleksandr Yanukovych, are on the blacklist, amongst others.