Russia on Thursday vetoed the extension of the mandate for the U.N. Panel of Experts tasked with monitoring sanctions implementation against North Korea, arguing that the sanctions regime has lost its relevance and become detached from reality.

NK News last week detailed major disagreements among the five permanent members of the UNSC that put the future of the group in question, with anticipation growing that Russia would use its power to end the Panels’ mandate.

Those fears turned out to be accurate, with Russia voting against renewing the Panel’s mandate and China abstaining. The other 13 of the 15 members