European Union sanctions against Russia took effect Wednesday, targeting senior government officials, several companies and hundreds of lawmakers who voted in favor of recognizing the independence of separatist parts of southeast Ukraine.

The sanctions, mostly a freeze on the assets of those listed and a ban on them traveling in the 27-nation EU, are the first steps in a planned series of retaliatory measures designed to be ramped up should Russian President Vladimir Putin launch an attack or push troops deeper into Ukraine. Putin signed a decree recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as independent and appears to be driving Russia`s campaign against Ukraine, but he is not on the EU`s list even though the sanctions target those "who were involved in the illegal decision."