The 19th package of sanctions adopted by the European Council against Russia includes 69 new individual listings and a range of economic restrictive measures targeting key sectors which fuel Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, including energy, finance and the military industrial complex.
The Council’s press service announced the details in a press release, according to aÑ‚ Ukrinform correspondent.
The report notes that the EU is also strengthening control over the movement of Russian diplomats across the EU and taking further measures against those responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Additional measures have been introduced against Belarus to curb Minsk’s support for Russia’s military aggression.
“Today’s package comes in response to Russia’s escalating aggression against Ukraine, in particular the recent brutal military campaign deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy, water and health facilities. These attacks, which have inflicted severe suffering on the civilian population, further underscore Russia’s unwillingness to pursue peace,” the press release reads.
Energy-related sanctions
Today’s package introduces a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU, starting January 2027 for long-term contracts, and within six months for short-term contracts, and tightens the existing transaction ban on two major Russian state-owned oil producers (Rosneft and Gazprom Neft).
The EU is also listing a Tatarstani conglomerate active in the Russian oil sector. In parallel, the EU is taking measures against important third country operators enabling Russia’s revenue streams. This involves sanctioning Chinese entities – two refineries and an oil trader – that are significant buyers of Russian crude oil.
Furthermore, the EU is imposing additional sanctions across the shadow fleet value chain. Specifically, the 19th package includes the listing of Litasco Middle East DMCC, Lukoil’s prominent shadow fleet enabler based in the United Arab Emirates. Other listings include maritime registries providing false flags to shadow fleet vessels, allowing their continued operation by creating a fraudulent impression of compliance with certification requirements. Today’s measures also target the largest port container operator in the Russian Far East, and a leading shipbuilder for Sovcomflot.
An additional 117 vessels have been made subject to a port access ban and a ban on the provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport, bringing the total number of designated vessels to 557.
The 19th package also introduces a ban on reinsuring vessels belonging to the shadow fleet, further constraining their ability to operate.
Financial measures
Recent activity has evidenced Russia’s increasing use of crypto in circumventing sanctions. In this context, the stablecoin A7A5 – created with Russian state support – has emerged as a prominent tool for financing activities supporting the war of aggression. Therefore, today’s package introduces sanctions on the developer of A7A5, the Kyrgyz issuer of that coin, and the operator of a platform where significant volumes of A7A5 is traded. Transactions involving this stablecoin have also been prohibited across the EU.
As of today, eight banks and oil traders from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, the UAE and Hong Kong that circumvent EU sanctions are subject to a transaction ban. Five additional Russian banks – Istina, Zemsky Bank, Commercial Bank Absolut Bank, MTS Bank, and Alfa-Bank – are targeted using the same measure. Four banks from Belarus and Kazakhstan are also put under a transaction ban, due to their connections to Russian financial messaging and payment systems.
Additionally, the EU is prohibiting its operators from engaging with the Russian National Payment Card System (‘Mir’) or the Fast Payments System (‘SBP’). Significant restrictions are also imposed on maintaining economic relationships with entities active in nine Russian special economic zones.
Russian diplomats
When travelling across the Schengen area beyond their country of accreditation, Russian diplomats will be obliged to inform in advance the relevant EU member state. This obligation aims at ensuring the awareness of member states, against a backdrop of increasingly hostile intelligence activities that support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Additionally, EU member states may impose an authorization requirement on Russian diplomats for traveling to their territories, based on visas or residence permits issued by another state.
Crimes against Ukrainian children
Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian authorities estimate that Russia has deported and forcibly transferred nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children into Russia or into Ukrainian territories illegally occupied by Russia. Those children, many of whom are from orphanages or separated from their families, often face forced adoption and efforts to erase their Ukrainian identity through forced assimilation and indoctrination.
Therefore, the EU is reinforcing accountability of those involved in such activities by listing 11 additional individuals. In order to streamline future sanctions on persons responsible for the abduction, forced assimilation and militarized education of Ukrainian minors, the Council is also introducing a new listing criterion.
Military sector
The EU is targeting businesspersons and entities forming part of the Russian military-industrial complex, and operators from UAE and China producing or supplying military and dual-use goods to Russia. Today’s listings also include a senior DPRK military commander deployed to Russia in support of the latter’s invasion of Ukraine, and an individual responsible for the inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Trade restrictions
The Council has identified 45 new entities directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex by, inter alia, enabling the circumvention of export restrictions on computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, microelectronics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other advanced technology items. These entities will be subject to tighter export restrictions with regard to dual-use goods, as well as items which might generally contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defense sector. 17 of these entities are located in third countries other than Russia (12 in China, including Hong Kong, three in India and two in Thailand).
The EU has also agreed to expand the existing export ban, to include electronic components, rangefinders, additional chemicals used in the preparation of propellants and additional metals, oxides and alloys used in the manufacturing of military systems. Salts and ores, articles made of rubber, tubes, tires, millstones and construction materials will also be subject to more stringent export restrictions. Finally, the 19th package introduces a prohibition to purchase, import or transfer all acyclic hydrocarbons due to the importance of such materials in generating significant revenues for Russia.
Additionally, the EU is listing Russia’s largest gold producer, further constraining its revenue sources.
Services restrictions
Today’s package makes prior authorization mandatory for all services provided to the Russian government. Furthermore, it restricts the provision of AI services, high-performance computing services and commercial space-based services to Russian entities, including the Russian government.
Today’s measures also prohibit European operators from providing services directly related to tourism activities in Russia.
Belarus-related sanctions
Today’s package includes five new listings related to the Belarusian military-industrial complex and the Lukashenka regime. Moreover, it further mirrors Belarus’ trade measures with the ones imposed on Russia.
Additionally, the agreed measures target crypto-related payment services and expand the prohibition on providing certain software, including for banking, finance, commercial space-based services, technical testing and analysis, AI and quantum computing.
As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky said before the EU summit that adopting the 19th sanctions package demonstrates European unity at a time when Russia is intensifying its terror campaign against civilians.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced the approval of the new sanctions earlier in the day.
The move follows new U.S. Treasury sanctions against major Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, urging Moscow to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.