EU adopts largest-ever round of sanctions against Russia

The European Union on Monday adopted its largest-ever round of sanctions listings targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex, adding 1,569 individuals and entities to its sanctions list, the bloc said.

The European Union on Monday adopted its largest-ever round of sanctions listings targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex, adding 1,569 individuals and entities to its sanctions list, the bloc said.

The new listings target 826 Russian companies and 743 individuals serving as their chief executives, according to the EU Council. More than half are linked to the production chain for ballistic missiles, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

“This is the single largest expansion of our sanctions list since Russia started its war,” Kallas said.

“We are making it significantly harder, slower and more expensive for Russia to produce the weapons it uses to kill Ukrainians,” she added.

The measures target suppliers of components used in Russian weapons systems, including missiles, drones and aircraft. The sectors covered include electronics, communications equipment, aviation, satellite and missile systems, explosives, ammunition, optics and navigation technology.

Those listed are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds or economic resources available to them, directly or indirectly. Individuals on the list are also subject to a travel ban to the EU. The new measures bring the total number of listings under the EU sanctions regime linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine to nearly 4,600.

Separately, the EU Council on Monday extended its sanctions framework targeting the proliferation and use of chemical weapons for five years, until October 30, 2031. The validity of individual listings under that regime was renewed for one year, until October 30, 2027.

The chemical-weapons sanctions apply to 31 individuals and six entities, which are subject to asset freezes and, in the case of listed individuals, travel bans to the EU.