The Council of the European Union has adopted a series of restrictive measures to counter Russian aggression against Ukraine, the EU’s press service announced on 15 June.
Thirty-four individuals and 47 legal entities have been added to the sanctions lists. The EU expects that the measures will increase pressure on the Russian military-industrial complex and limit the Russian Federation’s revenues from energy resources due to the impact on the shadow fleet ecosystem.
Furthermore, the new sanctions are intended to counter hybrid threats and the spread of Russian state propaganda, and to “expose systematic pressure and human rights violations in Russia, as well as the country’s repeated disregard for the Chemical Weapons Convention”.
According to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, the measures are aimed at “the very heart of Russia’s military-industrial complex, its shadow fleet and the networks that fuel Moscow’s hybrid attacks on Europe”.
“At the same time, work is continuing on a broader 21st package of sanctions. Every measure narrows Russia’s room for manoeuvre. And the figures speak for themselves. Western sanctions have already cost Russia approximately between 1 and 1.3 trillion euros. Brick by brick, we are dismantling the foundations of Russia’s military economy,” she stated.
As the Council of the EU specifies, sanctions have been imposed, among other things, against seven individuals and 21 companies due to their links with the Russian military-industrial complex. In particular, these include manufacturers and suppliers of drones and other military equipment for the Russian armed forces for use in the war against Ukraine. Among them are:
- OJSC “Lavochkin Research and Production Association”, founded by the Russian state corporation “Roscosmos”
- Rustakt LLC
- ASFPV LLC
- IONOS LLC
- The Chinese company Shenzhen Minghuaxin
- Xinxiang Richful Lubricant Additive Company — one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of lubricant additives, based in China
- The Era Military Innovation Technopolis and the Foundation for Advanced Research were both established by the Russian government to develop cutting-edge unmanned military systems
Measures against the shadow fleet are directed, among others, at Lukoil-Western Siberia and a number of companies based in Russia, Liberia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and Hong Kong.
Furthermore, the Council of the EU adds that, following its annual review, it has decided to renew the restrictive measures imposed by the European Union in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, and to extend these measures until 23 June 2027.
The Council of the EU and the European Commission expect the 21st package of sanctions to be approved before the summer recess of the EU institutions. At the same time, even after political agreement has been reached, further decisions may be required regarding the specific mechanism for vetting former Russian combatants.