KYIV, Reuters – Ukraine imposed restrictions on Saturday on an Austrian design and architecture company that was working on a project in Sevastopol (a Russian-controlled city on the Crimean peninsula).

Coop Himmelb(L)au was banned from conducting business in Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. It can also not withdraw funds from Ukraine for the next five years.

It also bans the six members of the board from entering Ukraine or participating in privatisations. The decree states that their assets will be frozen.

After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Kyiv regards Crimea as an occupied territory.

On its website, the company claims that Sevastopol was Russian territory.

The Ukrainian authorities have placed sanctions on thousands of individuals and entities that participated in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. They also imposed sanctions on those who continued business operations in Crimea, despite Kyiv’s prohibitions.

The majority of Ukraine’s Western allies have not recognized Crimea as part Russia’s and support Kyiv’s sanctions.

Reuters reached out to the firm for comments but they have not yet responded.

Russia has positioned tens to thousands of troops at Ukraine’s border. Diplomatic efforts continue to stop the conflict from spiraling into war. Russia has denied that it plans to invade Ukraine.