The Australian government announced sweeping new measures against Russia, including:
Sanctions on 44 individuals/entities supporting Russia's defense, energy, transport, insurance, electronics, and financial sectors
Deployment of an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Europe under NATO's Operation Kudu
Targets:
Defense industrial base suppliers
Russian propaganda disseminators
Entities circumventing existing sanctions
Scope:
Brings total Australian sanctions since February 2022 to over 1,500
Coordinates with UK, Canada, and EU on synchronized measures
Official Statement:
"These sanctions disrupt Russia's ability to fund its illegal, immoral war," said Foreign Minister Penny Wong on X (formerly Twitter), noting Australia's A$1.5 billion (US$980M) in total Ukraine support.
Operation Kudu:
100 Australian Defense Force personnel deployed August 2024-November 2025
Wedgetail aircraft to protect humanitarian/military supply routes
Strategic Context:
Follows Poland/NATO requests for enhanced airspace monitoring