Sanctions adopted following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine

The Council of the European Union adopted the following additional measures

1. Oil import restrictions
   • Crude and refined oil embargo: These sanctions will come into force with immediate effect, and will phase out Russian oil imports in an orderly fashion. For seaborne crude oil, spot market transactions and execution of existing contracts will be permitted for six months after entry into force, while for petroleum products, these will be permitted for eight months after entry into force. Member States who have a particular pipeline dependency on Russia can benefit from a temporary exemption and continue to receive crude oil delivered by pipeline, until the Council decides otherwise. However, Member States benefiting from this exemption will not be able to resell such crude oil and petroleum products to other Member States or third countries.
   • Due to its specific geographical exposure, a special temporary derogation until the end of 2024 has been agreed for Bulgaria which will be able to continue to import crude oil and petroleum products via maritime transport. In addition, Croatia will be able to authorise until the end of 2023 the import of Russian vacuum gas oil which is needed for the functioning of its refinery.
2. Oil transport services
   • After a wind down period of 6 months, EU operators will be prohibited from insuring and financing the transport, in particular through maritime routes, of oil to third countries.
   • This will make it particularly difficult for Russia to continue exporting its crude oil and petroleum products to the rest of the world since EU operators are important providers of such services.
3. Financial and business services measures
   • An additional three Russian banks, Russia's largest bank Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Russian Agricultural Bank - and the Belarusian Bank For Development And Reconstruction have been removed from SWIFT. These banks are critical for the Russian financial system and Putin's ability to further wage war. It will solidify the isolation of the Russian financial sector from the global system.
   • The measures on trusts have been refined and appropriate exceptions have been laid down in a revised version of the provision (e.g. for humanitarian purposes or civil society).
   • The provision of certain business-relevant services - directly or indirectly – such as accounting, auditing, statutory audit, bookkeeping and tax consulting services, business and management consulting, and public relations services to the Russian government, as well as to legal persons, entities or bodies established in Russia are now prohibited.
4. Broadcasting suspension
   • The broadcasting activities of another three Russian State outlets – Rossiya RTR/RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24/Russia 24, and TV Centre International – have been suspended. They are among the most important pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets targeting audiences in Ukraine and the EU, and disseminating propaganda in support of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
   • Several regulators in EU Member States have already taken action against those Russian state-controlled broadcasters and channels. They will now be barred from distributing their content across the EU, in whatever shape or form, be it on cable, via satellite, on the internet or via smartphone apps.
   • The advertising of products or services on sanctioned outlets has also been prohibited.
5. Export restrictions
   • The list of advanced technology items banned from export to Russia has been expanded to include additional chemicals that could be used in the process of manufacture of chemical weapons, already controlled since 2013 for other destinations such as Syria. Moreover, today's package further expands the list of natural, legal persons or entities associated with Russia's military-industrial complex. These natural, legal persons or entities are involved in various sectors, such as electronics, communications, weapons, shipyards, engineering and scientific research. This update brings the EU in alignment with United States measures, while other partners are expected to align in the near future.
   • The package adds the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea to the Annex of partner countries that have adopted substantially equivalent export restrictions.
   • The list of Belarusian entities subject to restrictions has been significantly widened (from 1 entity to 25). This is related to authorisations for the sale, supply, transfer or export of dual-use goods and technology, as well as goods and technology which might contribute to Belarus's military and technological enhancement, or to the development of its defence and security sector.

For more information

• Questions and answers on the sixth package of sanctions
• Sixth package of sanctions in the official journal
• European Commission website on Ukraine
• Questions and answers on restrictive measures

The Council of the European Union adopted the following restrictive measures

• Coal ban: An import ban on all forms of Russian coal
• Financial measures: A full transaction ban and asset freeze on four additional Russian banks. A prohibition on providing high-value crypto-asset services to Russia. A prohibition on providing trust services to wealthy Russians, making it more difficult for them to store their wealth in the EU
• Transport: A full ban on Russian and Belarusian freight road operators working in the EU. Certain exemptions cover essentials, such as mail, agricultural and food products, humanitarian aid as well as energy. An entry ban on Russian-flagged vessels to EU ports. Exemptions apply for medical, food, energy, and humanitarian purposes, amongst others
• Targeted export bans: Further targeted export bans which include, in particular, quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, sensitive machinery, transportation and chemicals
• Extending import bans: Additional import bans including cement, rubber products, wood, spirits (including vodka), liquor, high-end seafood (including caviar), and an anti-circumvention measure against potash imports from Belarus
• Excluding Russia from public contracts and European money: Full prohibition on the participation of Russian nationals and entities in procurement contracts in the EU. Restriction on financial and non-financial support to Russian publicly owned or controlled entities under EU, Euratom and Member State programmes
• Legal clarifications: Extension of the prohibitions on the export of banknotes and on the sale of transferrable securities to Russian nationals or entities to all official EU currencies
• Assets freezes: Adding of a further 217 individuals and 18 entities on the list

Related documents

• Question and answers on the fifth package
• Council Regulation (EU) 2022/576 of 8 April 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
• Council Regulation (EU) 2022/580 of 8 April 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
• Council Regulation (EU) 2022/577 of 8 April 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine

The Council adopted the following restrictive measures

• A full prohibition on transactions with certain Russian State-owned enterprises, with the exception of State-owned banks, railways and the maritime shipping register
• Prohibit EU agencies to provide financial rating services to Russian companies
• A ban on imports of iron and steel products currently under EU safeguard measures as well as new investments in the Russian energy sector, with the exception of nuclear energy and the transport of energy products
• Prohibit the export of luxury goods
• Add 15 individuals and 9 entities to the list of sanctioned persons and entities, to include more oligarchs and business elites linked to the Kremlin, as well as companies active in military and defence sectors, and disinformation. With these additions, the list comprises a total of 877 individuals and 62 entities.

Related documents

• Commission press release of 15 March 2022
• Commission Frequently asked questions of 15 March 2022
• Council press release of 15 March 2022
• Sanctions adopted on 15 March 2022 published in the Official Journal

The Council adopted the following restrictive measures

• Exclude three banks of Belarus from the SWIFT system
• Prohibit transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus related to the management of reserves or assets, and the provision of public financing for trade with and investment in Belarus
• Clarify the notion of “transferable securities” so as to clearly include crypto-assets, and thus ensure the proper implementation of the sectoral restrictions in place
• Prohibit the listing and provision of services in relation to shares of Belarus state-owned entities on EU trading venues as of 12 April 2022
• Significantly limit the financial inflows from Belarus to the EU, by prohibiting the acceptance of deposits exceeding €100.000 from Belarusian nationals or residents, the holding of accounts of Belarusian clients by the EU central securities depositories, as well as the selling of euro-denominated securities to Belarusian clients
• Prohibit the provision of euro denominated banknotes to Belarus
• Further restrictive measures with regard to the export of maritime navigation goods and radio communication technology to Russia
• Add 160 individuals to the list of sanctioned persons and entities. With these additions, the list comprises a total of 862 individuals and 53 entities

Related documents

• Commission press release of 9 March 2022
• Council press release on the extended sanctions adopted on 9 March 2022
• Council press release on the extended financial measures adopted on 9 March 2022
• Sanctions adopted on 9 March 2022 published in the Official Journal
• Extended financial measures adopted on 9 March 2022 published in the Official Journal

The Council adopted the following restrictive measures

• Exclude key Russian banks from the SWIFT system, the world's dominant financial messaging system. This measure will stop these banks from conducting their financial transactions worldwide in a fast and efficient manner. Today's decision has been closely coordinated with the EU's international partners, such as the United States and the United Kingdom
• Prohibit investing in projects co-financed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund
• Prohibit the provision of euro-denominated banknotes to Russia
• Prohibit state-owned media Russia Today and Sputnik' to broadcast in the EU
• Restrictions on trade against Belarus and add 22 individuals of the Belarus military personnel to the list of sanctioned persons and entities. With these additions, the list comprises a total of 702 individuals and 53 entities

Related documents

• Commission press release of 2 March 2022 on SWIFT and further restrictive measures
• Council press release of 2 March 2022 on SWIFT and further restrictive measures
• Council press release of 2 March 2022 on Belarus
• Sanctions adopted on 2 March 2022 on SWIFT published in the Official Journal
• Sanctions adopted on 2 March 2022 on Belarus published in the Official Journal

The Council adopted the following restrictive measures

• A ban on transactions with the Russian Central Bank, aiming at preventing the Russian Central Bank from accessing its large amounts of foreign reserves held in the EU
• A ban on the overflight of EU airspace and on access to EU airports by Russian carriers of all kinds
• Add 26 individuals and 1 entity to the list of sanctioned persons and entities. With these additions, the list comprises a total of 680 individuals and 53 entities

Related documents

• Council press release of 28 February 2022
• Sanctions adopted on 28 February 2022 on transactions with the Russian Central Bank and measures on airspace published in the Official Journal
• Sanctions adopted on 28 February 2022 on the list of sanctioned persons and entities published in the Official Journal

Following up on the conclusions of the European Council on 24 February 2022, the Council adopted on 25 February the following package of individual and economic measures

• Financial sector sanctions that will cut Russia's access to the most important capital markets, targeting 70% of the Russian banking market, but also key state-owned companies, including the field of defence
• Energy sector sanctions that will prohibit the sale, supply, transfer or export to Russia of specific goods and technologies in oil refining, and will introduce restrictions on the provision of related services
• Transport sector sanctions that will ban the sale of all aircraft, spare parts and equipment to Russian airlines. This will degrade the key sector of Russia's economy and the country's connectivity
• Technology sector sanctions imposing further restrictions on exports of dual-use goods and technology, as well as restrictions on exports of certain goods and technology which might contribute to Russia’s technological enhancement of its defence and security sector
• Visa policy sanctions that mean diplomats and related groups, and business people will no longer have privileged access to the EU. With these additions, the list of sanctioned persons and entities comprises a total of 654 individuals and 52 entities

Related documents

• Council press release of 25 February 2022
• Sanctions adopted on 25 February 2022 published in the Official Journal

In response to Russia recognising the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and its decision to send troops into the region, the Council adopted a package of sanctions on 23 February 2022. These sanctions target

• the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EU’s capital and financial markets and services, to limit the financing of escalatory and aggressive policies
• economic relations between the two non-government controlled regions and the EU, to ensure that those responsible clearly feel the economic consequences of their illegal and aggressive actions
• individuals and entities who played a role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. With these additions, the list comprises a total of 555 individuals and 52 entities

Related documents

• Council press release 23 February 2022
• Sanctions adopted on 23 February 2022 published in the Official Journal