The Luhansk and Donetsk Regions

Updated as of October 31, 2022

In February 2022, the U.S., U.K., and EU issued a series of sanctions against Russia related to its actions in Ukraine. The sanctions include restrictions for persons and entities in the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, similar to the 2014 Crimean sanctions.

Account Restrictions

1. Why is my account restricted?
   • Your account lists an address that is located in the Luhansk or Donetsk region in Ukraine.  The U.S. government issued sanctions specifically focused on two regions of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk.  These sanctions allowed a short wind-down period, which ended March 23, 2022.  IBKR, as a U.S. financial institution, is required to limit the transactions clients from those regions can conduct.
2.  I no longer live in the Luhansk People’s Republic (“LNR”) or Donetsk People’s Republic (“DNR”).  I live outside of those areas. Why is my account restricted?

• IBKR has placed restrictions based on its account records and the information available to it.  If you currently live outside of the LNR or DNR, please update your address on file and submit a current document to verify your address (such as a utility bill).  We will review the information you provide and consider whether restrictions can be lifted.
  3. What are the restrictions?

For Individual/Joint CustomersAs of March 23, 2022, clients with addresses in the LNR or DNR cannot make any trades, or transfer positions, unless the U.S. sanctions are lifted or authorization is granted by OFAC.   You cannot make deposits at this time but you may make a withdrawal to an account in your name for personal, non-commercial purposes.  We will require you to confirm this before the withdrawal.For Org CustomersThe sanctions do not allow organization or trust accounts to trade, transfer or withdraw funds now that the wind down period ended.  

4. What do I have to do to remove the restrictions?

• If you have moved from the LNR or DNR but did not update your account information, please update your address on file and provide a current proof of address document demonstrating that you do not reside in the LNR or DNR.  We will review the information and let you know whether the restrictions can be removed.
• Alternatively, you can contact the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and apply for a specific license on OFAC’s website.   (OFAC License Application Page)

Additional Information

• FAQs for Ukraine/Russia Securities
• IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE RUSSIAN RUBLE (RUB)