The European Council on March 13 extended sanctions against individuals and businesses in connection with the events in Ukraine by another six months, until September 15, 2017, the press service of the Council of the European Union has said.

The sanctions were extended because of "actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine" and consist of asset freezes and travel bans to EU countries.

"The assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the sanctions regime," it said.

"The list was reviewed and the Council removed two deceased persons from the list of persons and entities subject to these restrictive measures, which now apply to 150 persons and 37 entities. Identifying information and statement of reasons for listing related to these persons and entities were updated as necessary," it said.

The legal acts are available in the EU Official Journal of March 14, 2017. They were adopted by written procedure.

These restrictive measures were introduced in March 2014 and were last extended in September 2016. Several EU measures are in place in response to the crisis in Ukraine, also including: economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy, currently in place until 31 July 2017; restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol, currently in place until 23 June 2017.