EU foreign ministers adopt new sanctions on Russia over war on Ukraine

European Union foreign ministers adopted on June 15 a set of restrictive measures to combat Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, its hybrid activities and its systematic disregard for international law, including human rights, a statement by the Council of the EU said.

The package of additional listings consists of 34 individuals and 47 entities in total.

The measures will further constrain the Russian military-industrial complex, curb Russia’s energy revenues by targeting its shadow fleet ecosystem, disrupt hybrid threats and the spread of Russian state propaganda justifying its war of aggression, and expose the systematic repression and violations of human rights in Russia, as well as the country’s repeated disregard for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the statement said.

In view of the Russian Federation’s continued and escalating aggression against Ukraine, which continues to inflict enormous suffering on the civilian population, the EU is imposing restrictive measures on seven individuals and 21 entities supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex and its enablers in third countries, it said.

The measures target several manufacturers and suppliers of drones and other military equipment to the Russian armed forces for use in the war of aggression against Ukraine, including JSC Lavochkin Research and Production Association, founded by Russian state corporation for space activities Roscosmos, LLC Rustakt, LLC ASFPV, LLC IONOS and Chinese company Shenzhen Minghuaxin and Xinxiang Richful Lubricant Additive Company – which is one of the largest lubricant additive manufacturers and distributors based in China –, as well as ERA Military Innovation Technopolis and the Foundation for Advanced Studies, both established by the Government of the Russian Federation to develop advanced unmanned systems for military purposes.

Energy revenues continue to provide a lifeline to Russia’s ailing economy, the statement said.

The June 15 package entails listings of two individuals – Tahir Garayev and Konstantin Rogach – and 24 entities related to the shipment and export of crude oil or petroleum products from Russia, including through Russia’s shadow fleet, a tool designed to circumvent EU sanctions and which poses a threat to maritime safety and the environment.

These listings cover Lukoil-Western Siberia and numerous companies based in Russia, Liberia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and Hong Kong.

Russia continues to direct malicious activities against the EU, its member states and third countries, the statement said.

The new listings of 10 individuals and one entity include several prominent Russian propagandists involved in Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), like Anatoly Kuzichev, Kirill Fedorov, Roman Antonovskii and Maria Volkonskaya, the editor-in-chief of the state-controlled newspaper Krymskaya Gazeta.

“They are responsible for spreading disinformation aimed at justifying, promoting or legitimising Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine or disseminating hostile and manipulative narratives targeting Ukraine and aimed at dehumanising Ukrainians or distorting historical facts,” the statement said.

Furthermore, the Council listed Alexandra Jost – a social media influencer living in Russia – and Georgiy Shevkunov – a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church who plays an active role in spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed at justifying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine – as well as the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, a foundation created by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In light of the joint statement of February 16 2026 by the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands in relation to the poisoning of Alexei Navalny in February 2024 with the lethal toxin epibatidine, the Council is today also listing one entity and 15 individuals, including Russian judges and prosecutors, as well as law enforcement, state security (FSB) and medical personnel, for their involvement in the persecution, poisoning and death of Alexei Navalny.

The measures also target IPJSC NTK, a company that has cooperated with the Department of Information Technologies of the City of Moscow in the development of a facial recognition system intended to monitor and detain independent journalists, opposition activists and participants who were protesting peacefully in support of Alexei Navalny and in opposition to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Following the annual review, the Council of the EU also decided to renew the restrictive measures introduced by the EU in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, and to extend these measures until 23 June 2027.

The EU does not recognise and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation as a violation of international law.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: “Today, we approved another batch of sanctions to put more pressure on Russia to end the war”.

“These measures strike at the heart of Russia’s military-industrial complex, its shadow fleet, and the networks that fuel Moscow’s hybrid attacks against Europe,” Kallas said.

In parallel, work is underway on the broader 21st sanctions package, she said.

“Every measure shrinks Russia’s room for manoeuvre. And the numbers speak volumes. Western sanctions have already cost Russia an estimated 1 to 1.3 trillion euro. Brick by brick, we are collapsing the foundations of Russia’s war economy,” Kallas said.