Canada has joined the U.S. and European Union in levelling new sanctions against Russia, expanding the current economic and travel bans.

The new sanctions add 19 Russians and Ukrainians to the list of those banned from travel to Canada, and an additional 22 Russian and Ukrainian groups and economic entities.

"The Putin regime's continued illegal occupation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and its provocative military activity in eastern Ukraine remains a grave concern to Canada and the international community," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a written statement announcing the sanctions.

"Export restrictions announced by the European Union with respect to military and military dual-use goods destined to Russia, are already in place in Canada. We are also committed to imposing the necessary regulations to enact export restrictions on technologies used in Russia's oil exploration and extraction sector. Those will be implemented in parallel with our allies."

The new sanctions apply to a number of security and defence officials and military units and militia, as well as several leaders and high-ranking members of pro-Russian breakaway groups in Ukraine.

The Russian entities hit by the sanctions are:

  • Bank of Moscow
  • Dobrolet Airlines
  • Russian Agricultural Bank 
  • Russian National Commercial Bank
  • United Shipbuilding Corporation
  • VTB Bank OAO

The U.S. and EU announced their sanctions a week ago. NATO has also warned Russia could be poised to invade Ukraine.