MOSCOW — The European Union imposed sanctions on 34 individuals and 47 entities on Monday as a response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Among those targeted was Georgiy Shevkunov, also known as Metropolitan Tikhon, a senior bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church.

The EU stated the sanctions against Shevkunov address his alleged spreading of Russian propaganda and disinformation to justify the invasion of Ukraine. Russian media outlets frequently refer to Shevkunov as President Vladimir Putin's personal priest and confessor, though Shevkunov has not confirmed or denied these claims.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Western sanctions have cost Russia over $1 trillion. Kallas said. "We approved another batch of sanctions to put more pressure on Russia to end the war." "These measures strike at the heart of Russia's military-industrial complex, its shadow fleet, and the networks that fuel Moscow's hybrid attacks against Europe."

The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and prohibitions on making funds available to the listed individuals and entities. The measures also target individuals and organizations involved in the manufacturing and supply of drones and other military equipment to Russian forces. Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. Shevkunov was appointed Metropolitan of Crimea in 2023. Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and hundreds of thousands of military deaths. In February, Russia's FSB security service announced the arrest of two individuals, stating they had thwarted a plot to assassinate Shevkunov.