The member states of the European Union (EU) have adopted the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting such important sectors as energy, finance, military industry, special economic zones. Sanctions have also been introduced against supporters of Russia’s expanded war and promoters of profit making.
According to the European Commission (EC), a complete ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and further restrictions on the shadow fleet are the most severe sanctions against the Russian energy sector to date. Sanctions also target financial services and infrastructure, including for the first time against cryptocurrency, as well as trade. The restrictions also target the services sector and strengthen anti-circumvention tools.
The sanctions provide for a ban on the import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from January 1, 2027 for long-term contracts and within six months of the entry into force of the sanctions for short-term contracts.
A complete ban on transactions for the companies “Rosneft” and “Gazpromneft” is established.
“Europe has taken a historic decision. By the end of 2026, we will cut off all Russian LNG imports and combat the shadow oil fleet. This is an unprecedented step by the EU in unity and full solidarity with Ukraine. It will deal a major blow to Putin’s war machine and support peace efforts in Kyiv. Europe must regain its energy independence. Ukraine must dominate,” Dan declared. Jergensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing.
The EU is also targeting major third-country operators that provide Russian revenue streams.
This includes imposing sanctions on Chinese companies – two refineries and an oil trader – that are major buyers of Russian crude.
A ban on the import of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has also been established. This measure is aimed at circumventing sanctions, as some Member States have reported that this option has been used to circumvent existing restrictions on LPG.
Another 117 vessels have been added to the shadow fleet blacklist, bringing the total number of Russian shadow fleet vessels to 557 on the EU blacklist. They are subject to a ban on access to ports and a ban on receiving services.
The sanctions package also includes an extension of the ban on port infrastructure, which will allow the EU to list ports in third countries that are useful to Russia’s war effort.
The new measures also include additional bans on energy-related services, such as scientific and technical services such as geological exploration and mapping.
In the financial field, bans on transactions have been extended to five new Russian banks. No EU entrepreneur will be able to cooperate directly or indirectly with any of the listed banks.
Certain new bans on Russian payment cards and fast payment system “Mir” and SBP. The measures also include four new financial institutions in Belarus and Kazakhstan using the Russian Payment System (SPFS).
The EU is imposing full-fledged sanctions on the developer of the widely used ruble cryptocurrency A7A5, the Kyrgyz issuer of the coin and a major trading platform associated with it. For the first time, the new measures also ban the use of this cryptocurrency. In addition, the sanctions directly target a cryptocurrency exchange in Paraguay, which has played a key role in circumventing existing restrictions.
EU operators are also banned from providing cryptocurrency services and certain fintech services, which allow Russia to develop its financial infrastructure and potentially circumvent sanctions.
In addition, bans are being implemented on five third-country banks in Central Asia that support Russia’s war economy and undermine the effectiveness of sanctions.
EU operators are prohibited from transacting with any of these financial operators.
On the trade front, the new sanctions expand export restrictions and bans to further cripple and weaken Russia’s military-industrial complex. These include individual sanctions against entrepreneurs and companies that are part of Russia’s military-industrial complex, and entrepreneurs from the United Arab Emirates and China that manufacture or supply military and dual-use goods to Russia.
New export restrictions are imposed on additional dual-use items and advanced technologies, including metals for the construction of weapons systems and products used in the preparation of propellants that are not yet subject to sanctions.
New export bans have been imposed on goods such as salts and ores, construction materials and rubber products.
The blacklist includes another 45 companies that directly or indirectly support the Russian military-industrial complex or are involved in evading sanctions.
Among them are 28 companies registered in Russia and 17 companies registered in third countries – 12 companies in China, including Hong Kong, three companies in India and two companies in Thailand.
Sanctions are also directed against Russia’s special economic zones (SEZ). It is proposed to prohibit the conclusion of new contracts with all entities registered in designated Russian SEZs. In addition, two of these SEZs – “Alabuga” and “Technopolis Moscow” – will be subject to a ban, which will also apply to existing contracts.
As part of the new measures, the EU implements service bans that block Russia’s access to advanced digital capabilities in the EU, including some space-based services and artificial intelligence services. At the same time, the existing targeted ban on providing services to the Russian government will be strengthened. All non-prohibited services to the Russian government will be subject to a new pre-authorization requirement, ensuring that all such activities are subject to strict scrutiny and oversight.
The new measures ban reinsurance services for ships and aircraft owned by the Russian government or Russian individuals for up to five years after their sale to third countries.
The new measures introduce an obligation for Russian diplomats traveling in the EU outside their country of accreditation to inform the relevant EU member state in advance. EU member states may require Russian diplomats to obtain permission to travel to their territory based on a visa or residence permit issued by another country. This measure is designed to counter increasingly hostile intelligence activities that support Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The EU is strengthening the accountability of those involved in the abduction, forced assimilation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, adding 11 more people to the list.
