The European Union has agreed to the largest single expansion of its sanctions regime against Russia since the full-scale war began in 2022. Under the new measures, 743 individuals and 826 entities are set to be added to the sanctions lists.
Russia’s defense industry is at the center of the package. More than half of the listed entities are linked to missile production.
Elections in occupied regions also included
The EU’s 22nd sanctions package also targets 77 political figures and election officials connected to parliamentary elections held last month in Ukrainian regions under Russian occupation.
Some individuals and entities linked to Russia are also expected to be added to separate lists created under the EU’s sanctions against North Korea. The measures include travel bans, asset freezes and bans on benefiting from EU funds.
Total coverage expected to reach about 4,650 individuals and entities
The expanded list is expected to be formally approved by EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday. The bloc adopted its previous sanctions package in July.
With the new measures, the total number of individuals and entities sanctioned by the EU over the war is expected to rise to about 4,650.
Changes to the list spark debate
The new agreement came after Russian businesspeople Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman were removed from the sanctions list. The decision was linked to concessions made to keep the other sanctions in force.
Usmanov’s removal from the list was linked to the release of a French prisoner held in Azerbaijan. EU officials are also considering a shift to qualified-majority voting in future sanctions decisions to prevent a single member from vetoing them.
