According to AFP, Europol, the EU’s policy agency, said today that it has initiated an investigation aimed against Russian persons and firms’ assets:
The Hague-based organization started the “Oscar” operation in collaboration with EU member states, Eurojust, and Frontex. Europol said in a statement that the operation will “facilitate partners’ exchange of information and intelligence, as well as provide operational support in a number of financial investigations targeting criminal assets and circumvention of EU economic sanctions related to Russia’s military aggression.”
According to the statement, Frontex, the EU’s border agency, “will participate to the operation by strengthening the examination of those who are crossing EU’s external borders and come within the scope of the penalties.”
According to Europol, Operation Oscar will last at least a year and will include a number of independent investigations.
Europol said in a statement that it will also give financial assistance to the necessary national agencies, as well as forensic and technological expertise and support for investigations, according to the AFP. Eurojust, Europol’s judicial equivalent, will also provide legal help and other assistance.
According to Reuters, Russian attacks in Ukraine’s Donetsk area killed three civilians and injured eight more.
Russian bombings on Ukraine’s eastern province of Donetsk killed three civilians and injured eight others on Monday, the area’s governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a message on the Telegram messaging app.
The governor’s description of the assault could not be independently verified by Reuters.
