---
title: "New Zealand introduces 36th sanctions package: blow to cybercriminals and child abductors"
description: "🇳🇿 New Zealand has introduced its 36th sanctions package against the Russian Federation. 33 individuals are under restrictions. Special focus is on cybercriminals and child abductors. 🚫💻 Minister Peters stated: \"Children cannot be used as weapons of war.\" Sanctions also affected Russia's allies from North Korea and Iran. In total, more than 2,000 individuals have been restricted since 2022. 📉"
date: 2026-08-08T12:40:02.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/new-zealand-36th-sanctions-package-cybercriminals-and-children
tags: [new-zealand, sanctions, russia-ukraine-war, cybercrime, ukrainian-children, winston-peters]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# New Zealand introduces 36th sanctions package: blow to cybercriminals and child abductors

![Barbed wire against the backdrop of the Russian flag, symbolizing sanctions and restrictions](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/08/novaya-zelandiya-36-paket-sanktsiy-kiberpristupniki-i-deti/novaya-zelandiya-36-paket-sanktsiy-kiberpristupniki-i-deti-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- New Zealand has introduced a 36th package of sanctions against 33 individuals and legal entities.
- Special emphasis is placed on cybercriminals and propagandists.
- Sanctions are directed against individuals involved in the abduction and 're-education' of Ukrainian children.
- Restrictions also affected Russia's allies from North Korea and Iran.

On August 8, 2026, it was reported that sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation from the Australian region has been expanded. The Government of New Zealand officially announced the introduction of a new, 36th package of restrictive measures. As reported by RBK-Ukraine citing government sources, 33 individuals and legal entities have been targeted. New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, personally outlined the details of the new decision, emphasizing the strategic importance of these steps in the context of the ongoing conflict.

### Focus on cyber threats and information warfare

One of the key features of the new sanctions package was attention to the digital sector. New Zealand authorities have for the first time so sharply focused on the activities of cybercriminals. Winston Peters stated that "activity carried out via a keyboard can have real consequences." The list of restrictions includes malicious cyber actors who, according to New Zealand intelligence, are engaged in intelligence gathering, helping Russian structures bypass existing sanctions, and hindering the activities of organizations opposing Russian aggression. Also targeted were distributors of anti-Ukrainian propaganda aimed at legitimizing the war.

### Protection of children's rights: top priority

A special emotional and political emphasis in the statement was placed on the issue of Ukrainian children. Sanctions affected individuals involved in the forced resettlement, abduction, and so-called "re-education" of children from occupied territories. "Children should never be used as instruments of war. New Zealand remains deeply concerned by attempts to abduct and re-educate Ukrainian children through forced state programs," the minister emphasized. This decision directly echoes the position of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova in 2023 specifically for the illegal deportation of children.

### Global scale of restrictions

The new sanctions package is not limited to internal Russian structures. Restrictions also affected entities from North Korea and Iran that contribute to Russia's military-industrial complex and support Moscow's invasion. The list also includes Russian political figures whose activities contribute to the continuation of military operations. Since the Sanctions on Russia Act came into force in March 2022, New Zealand has imposed restrictions on more than 2,000 individuals, legal entities, and vessels, demonstrating consistency in its foreign policy line.

### Contradictory data

While the official statement by the New Zealand government and media reports (RBK-Ukraine) clearly indicate the number of 33 new individuals in the 36th package, there are discrepancies in the interpretation of the status of some of them. While the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls them "war supporters" and "cyber actors," Russian sources and propaganda channels often characterize these measures as a "political witch hunt" and refuse to recognize their legal force. Furthermore, the exact list of 33 individuals was available only in PDF format on the government website at the time of publication, making it difficult for independent international fact-checkers to instantly verify specific names, although general categories (cyber, children, MIC) have been confirmed.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: How many individuals fell under New Zealand's new sanctions?
**A:** 33 individuals and legal entities are under restrictions.

### Q: Who is specifically being punished in the new package?
**A:** Sanctions have affected cybercriminals, abductors of Ukrainian children, propagandists, as well as Russia's allies from North Korea and Iran.

### Q: Is this the first sanctions package from New Zealand?
**A:** No, this is already the 36th round of sanctions since March 2022.