(VOVworld) - The European Union’s decision to extend by one year restrictions against 16 Ukrainian citizens including Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovych began to take effect.

Viktor Yanukovych, whose ouster early last year led to the insurgency raging in east Ukraine (themoscowtimes)

All people on the list are identified as responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds or for the abuse of office causing a loss to Ukrainian public funds. The sanctions will continue until March 06 next year. The EU has imposed a series of sanctions on Ukrainian citizens and former officials after Yanukovych was ousted and conflicts in eastern Ukrain broke out in April 2014, leaving 9,000 dead and 21,000 injured.