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The Ukrainian government is threatening to impose sanctions against Israeli citizens or companies doing business in Russian-occupied Crimea, i24News TV channel reports citing the Israeli Haaretz daily.
In an announcement published in both English and Ukrainian on its website, the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel on Friday claimed it obtained information that Israelis entering Crimea in violation of Ukrainian law were conducting business with "illegal authorities," according to i24News TV channel
"The Embassy states that such actions are considered as the violation of the Ukrainian legislation, in particular the Law of Ukraine, 'on ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens and legal regime of the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine,'" the announcement reads.
The embassy stressed that any financial transaction with Russian forces in "the temporarily occupied territory" constitute a violation of international law as per a March 2014 UN General Assembly resolution on the need to maintain the "territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Read alsoUkraine bans Italian opera singer's concert for his plans to sing in Crimea "In the case of the continuation of such actions, the relevant information will be transmitted to the competent authorities of Ukraine to further bring to justice perpetrators of violations of the current legislation," the announcement continued.
"It will be also considered the inclusion of the relevant Israeli companies to the list of legal entities, which are subject to special restrictive measures (sanctions)."
Israel's official policy towards Russia's invasion of the Ukraine and the occupation of Crimea in February 2014 has been guided by restraint.
As opposed to most other western countries, Israel did not condemn Russia's actions or declare its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Israel, however, maintained close relations with the Ukrainian government and even treated Ukrainian soldiers wounded in fighting with Russia in Israeli hospitals.
Last December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko as part of a two day visit to Israel by the Ukrainian leader.
A senior Israeli official told i24news that "Jerusalem will be very cautious not to find itself in the crossfire between Russia and Ukraine."