Listings
Who have you targeted?
Asset freezes have been imposed against almost 200 individuals and entities including the Russian Armed Forces, individual officers, defence industry companies, but also members of the State Duma and of the Federation Council - ministers, Russian proxy authorities and political parties among them.
The list covers key figures involved in Russia's brutal and deliberate missile strikes against civilians, in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia, and in the theft of Ukrainian agricultural products. Sanctions were also introduced against three additional Russian banks, to further dry out Putin's war chest. This brings the total number of listings to 1557.
Import and export restrictions
What EU export bans have been introduced?
The EU is introducing new export restrictions on dual-use and advanced technologies that might contribute to Russia's military capabilities and technological enhancement, such as drone engines, camouflage gear, additional chemical/biological equipment, riot control agents and additional electronic components found on the battlefield in Ukraine. Restrictions on key industrial goods used by the Russian military, such as generators, toy drones, laptops, hard drives, IT components, cameras, lenses have also been added.
The EU is also listing today 168 additional Russian entities closely linked to the Russian military-industrial complex to whom even tighter restrictions apply in an effort to cut off their access to sensitive dual-use and advanced technologies. This brings the total number of entities targeted by sectoral measures to 410. This decision has been done in close collaboration with our partners and includes military end-users working in various sectors such as aeronautics, research centres, naval/marine, weapons manufacturing, information and communication.
New export bans will extend to additional industrial goods and technology, such as toy/hobby drones, complex generator devices, laptop computers and computing components, printed circuits, radio navigational systems, radio remote control apparatus, aircraft engines and parts of engines, cameras and lenses.
An even wider array of business services can no longer be provided to Russia with the introduction of bans on market research and public opinion polling services, technical testing and analysis services, and advertising services.
Will this package prevent the export of drones to Iran?
The new export restrictions on dual-use and advanced technologies apply to the direct exports of drone engines to Russia, as well as to exports to any third country, including Iran, where there is a risk of diversion and military use in Russia.
Additional economic measures against the Russian mining sectors
In addition to the existing investment ban in the energy sector in Russia, new EU investments in the Russian mining sector will also be prohibited, with the exception of the mining of certain raw materials.
Financial restrictions
Why have you added additional Russian banks to your transaction ban list? What effect will this have?
We have added the Russian Regional Development Bank to the list of entities that are subject to a prohibition to engage in any transaction with. It is a Russian State-owned entity. It will stop EU funding of projects developed in RU.
Media
Why have we added these media?
We have added NTV, Pervyi Kanal, Rossiya 1 and REN TV because they are all either Russian State-owned or under the Kremlin's influence and disseminate Russian disinformation and propaganda. Previously, Russia Today, Sputnik RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24 and TVCI were sanctioned.
Clarifications
Are you now allowing the re-export of refined oil products from Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria?
Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria all benefit from derogations from the general EU ban on the import of Russian oil. The aim of this derogation was granted to ensure the security of supply of these Member States. They can therefore import Russian crude oil under certain conditions. In a spirit of solidarity with Ukraine, today's package clarifies that these Member States can refine Russian crude oil and re-export those diesel products to Ukraine. This will provide Ukraine with a valuable source of supply while its refineries are affected by the war.
What other clarifications are you introducing?
In addition to the above, we have also extended the ban on sitting on governing boards to all Russian State-owned enterprises, including joint-ventures with a Russian State majority/controlling influence.
What was agreed on fertilisers?
It is important to state that none of the EU's sanctions adopted against Russia prevent the supply of agri-food, medical equipment or medicines for the general population in Russia. Conversely, if third countries wish to buy Russian fertilisers, there are no EU sanctions that would prohibit this.
Nevertheless, given that food security concerns still exist in certain third countries, today's package introduces a new targeted derogation allowing Member States to unfreeze assets of, and to make funds and economic resources available to, certain individuals who held a prominent significant role in international trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilisers, prior to their listing. It is for the relevant national competent authority to authorise such unfreezing, based on a specific and case-by-case assessment. They must act in close cooperation with the Commission to ensure uniform implementation of sanctions across the EU.
General
What is the rationale of imposing such sanctions?
-
-Sanctions are targeted at the Kremlin. They aim to weaken the Russian government's ability to finance its aggression against Ukraine and are calibrated in order to minimise the negative consequences on the Russian population.
-
-Sanctions are imposing a direct cost on Russia for its war of aggression and damaging Russia's industrial and economic ability to wage war, manufacture more weapons, and repair existing weapons systems. The sanctions also deprive the Russian army and its suppliers of the goods and equipment needed to wage its war on sovereign Ukrainian territory.
-
-In addition, sanctions are designed to maximise the negative impact for the Russian economy, while limiting the consequences for EU businesses and citizens. We welcome EU companies' diligence in complying with the sanctions framework in place.
-
-Ensuring an effective and diligent implementation of sanctions is key to prevent circumvention. This is primarily the responsibility of Member States.
-
-In this process, the European Commission is fully committed to assisting them and ensuring a consistent implementation across the Union.
For More Information