The EU Foreign Ministers adopted the 16th package of economic sanctions against Russia

The EU Foreign Ministers adopted today the 16th package of economic sanctions against Russia, marking three years of Russia’s “full-scale invasion” and aggressive war against Ukraine.

“For three years now, Russia has been relentlessly bombing Ukraine, trying to steal land that does not belong to it,” emphasized by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in her statement. She also notes that this new round of sanctions not only targets the Russian shadow fleet but also those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, video game controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to bypass EU sanctions, and Russian propaganda. Ms. Kallas further adds that “with talks underway to end Russia’s aggression, we must put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.”

The new sanctions package includes, among other things, measures against the so-called “shadow fleet” of Russia, adding 74 more ships to the list of vessels that are subject to a port entry ban and a ban on maritime transport-related services, bringing the total number of sanctioned ships to 153. This measure targets non-EU tankers that are part of Putin’s shadow fleet that bypasses the oil price cap mechanism, supports Russia’s energy sector, or vessels responsible for transporting military equipment for Russia or stolen Ukrainian grain.

Additionally, to the list of sanctions against natural or legal persons, the following are added:

48 individuals and 35 entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.

Also, for the first time, the EU imposes a transaction ban on credit or financial institutions established outside Russia that use the Central Bank of Russia’s “Financial Messaging Transfer System” (SPFS). The SPFS is a specialized financial messaging service developed by the Central Bank of Russia to counteract the impact of restrictive measures. At the same time, the ban on providing specialized financial messaging services is extended to 13 regional banks considered significant to the Russian financial and banking systems.

Regarding trade, the EU Council added 53 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its aggressive war against Ukraine. They will be subject to stricter export restrictions concerning dual-use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technology that may contribute to enhancing Russia’s defense and security sector technology. A third of these entities are Russian, while others are located in third countries (China, including Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan) and have been involved in circumventing trade restrictions or have been engaged in supplying sensitive items needed, for example, for UAVs and missiles used in Russian military operations.

Additionally, today’s decision expands the list of restricted items contributing to enhancing Russia’s defense and security sector technology, adding elements for the development and production of Russian military systems, such as: chemical precursors “Chloropicrin” and others, software related to computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and chromium plating machines.

Also, the EU introduced further restrictions on the export of goods that contribute to enhancing Russia’s industrial capabilities (chemicals, certain plastics, and rubber) and their transit through Russia, as well as further restrictions on the import of primary aluminum, which provides significant revenue for Russia.

PROHIBITION OF BROADCASTING RUSSIAN MEDIA

The Council decided to suspend the EU broadcasting licenses of eight Russian media outlets under the permanent control of the Russian leadership and to ban them from broadcasting their content. These Russian media outlets are: EADaily / Eurasia Daily, Fondsk, Lenta, NewsFront, RuBaltic, SouthFront, Strategic Culture Foundation, and Krasnaya Zvezda / Tvzvezda. “These media outlets have been essential and decisive in promoting and supporting Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and in destabilizing its neighboring countries, the EU, and its member states,” noted in the Council’s announcement. (24/2/2025)