Council of EU adopts new sanctions in view of Russian hybrid threats, further sanctions on shadow fleet backers
The Council of the European Union announced on December 15 that it had adopted further sanctions on individuals and bodies backing Russia’s shadow fleet and against more individuals and bodies in view of Russia’s hybrid threats.
A statement by the Council of the EU said that it had sanctioned additional five individuals and four entities responsible for supporting Russia’s shadow fleet and its value chain, with a view to further curb Russia’s revenue generating abilities.
The listed individuals are businessmen linked – directly or indirectly – to major Russian state-owned oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
They are all involved in an economic sector providing a substantial source of revenue to the Russian government, the statement said.
Additionally, they control vessels transporting crude oil or petroleum products, originating in Russia or being exported from Russia, concealing the actual origin of the oil, while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices.
The entities targeted on December 15 are shipping companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Russia which own or manage tankers that are subject to restrictive measures imposed by the EU or by other countries for being part of Russia’s shadow fleet, and that transport crude oil or petroleum products while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices.
Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Individuals are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU member states.
Sanctions apply to over 2600 individuals and entities targeted in response to Russia’s ongoing unjustified and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine.
A separate statement said that the Council of the EU had decided on December 15 to adopt restrictive measures against an additional 12 individuals and two entities, in light of Russia’s continued hybrid activities, including Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and malicious cyber activities against the EU and its member states and partners.
The Council is listing notable foreign-policy analysts embedded in institutions, think-tanks and universities closely linked to or affiliated with the Kremlin’s policy and messaging apparatus, and influencers promoting pro-Russian propaganda and conspiracy theories on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as anti-Ukraine and anti-Nato narratives.
Some of these are Western European former military or police officers, the statement said.
The Council is also sanctioning the International Russophile Movement for amplifying destabilising narratives globally on behalf of the Russian government, and the 142nd Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion.
The latter is based in Kaliningrad and is responsible for using technology to disorganise any system of shortwave communication, conducting electronic warfare exercises, linked to the recent cases of GPS signal failures experienced by several EU member states.
The December 15 listings include members of the Russian Military Intelligence Agency GRU, unit 29155, as well as of cyber threat group Cadet Blizzard.
They took part in cyber-attacks against government organisations in Ukraine and targeted EU member states and Nato Allies to gain sensitive information and aiming to destabilise their political situation, the statement said.
With the December 15 decision, restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities now apply to total 59 individuals and 17 entities.
(Photo: European Parliament)
