Poroshenko at Supreme Court: Illegal sanctions hinder protection of people, enterprises from Russian missiles, drones
Ukrainian lawmaker and European Solidarity party leader Petro Poroshenko told a Supreme Court hearing that sanctions against him have become an obstacle to protecting people and enterprises from Russian attacks because they "prohibit" sanctioned individuals from purchasing air defense systems, the European Solidarity press service said.
"Since our previous hearing, the ROSHEN Kyiv confectionery factory was hit by missiles and Shaheds on January 24, and people died. On February 6, the ROSHEN logistics center was hit. A firefighter died. Firefighters remain in serious condition and have not yet been transferred from intensive care. We are taking care of their health," he said, citing examples of recent Russian attacks.
"Now I want to read a verbatim quote from government resolution 1506. You know that enterprises of critical importance to Ukraine's economy are given the right to independently protect people and production facilities using air defense systems. Paragraph 7 states that this resolution does not apply to legal entities and enterprises owned by sanctioned individuals. I cannot protect people because the government says sanctioned individuals are prohibited from protecting, and selling air defense systems is prohibited," Poroshenko said.
As reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree February 13 on the National Security and Defense Council's decision of February 12, 2025, "On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)." According to an appendix to the document, sanctions were imposed on five individuals: Poroshenko, Ihor Kolomoisky, former Finance and Credit Bank owner Kostiantyn Zhevaho, former PrivatBank co-owner Hennadiy Boholiubov and former lawmaker Viktor Medvedchuk.
Poroshenko challenged the sanctions in the Supreme Court. The court began hearing the lawsuit April 17 in the presence of Ukrainian lawmakers and diplomats from the European Union mission and representatives of the embassies of Germany, Poland, Austria, Sweden, Lithuania and Denmark. Poroshenko's representatives argue the sanctions were imposed illegally on a Ukrainian citizen who is in the country, and that only Russia considers him a "terrorist." Therefore, there are no legal grounds for sanctions.
In December, the court added to the case materials an October 16, 2025, ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that found sanctioned individuals in Ukraine do not have sufficient opportunity to defend their rights and proper procedural safeguards during judicial review of decisions to impose sanctions.
