EU hits Russia's shadow fleet and Putin's inner circle with new sanctions
Photo: EU sanctions hit Russian officials and propagandists (Getty Images)
The EU decision imposes sanctions on seven individuals and 21 entities that support Russia's military-industrial complex. These include manufacturers and suppliers of drones and other military equipment for the Russian army, as well as intermediaries operating in third countries.
A separate set of sanctions targets Russia's oil infrastructure. The sanctions list includes two individuals and 24 entities linked to oil exports through the so-called shadow fleet.
The EU stressed that such schemes help the Kremlin circumvent sanctions and pose environmental risks to maritime security.
Who was added to the sanction list?
The sanctions target Russian propagandists, officials, and religious figures. Those added to the list include:
- Metropolitan Georgiy Shevkunov of the Russian Orthodox Church, often described as Russian leader Vladimir Putin's "spiritual adviser";
- Russian-American blogger Aleksandra Jost, creator of the Sasha meets Russia project, who works with the state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today;
- Former Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov;
- Several pro-war bloggers and hosts of Russian political talk shows.
The list of sanctioned entities also includes the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, facial recognition technology developer NtechLab, the Izhevsk Aviation Plant, and shipping structures linked to the companies Lukoil and Gazprom Neft.
In addition, following its annual review, the EU extended sanctions imposed over the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. These measures will remain in force at least until June 23, 2027.
Recently, Brussels approved its 21st sanctions package, targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, including energy, financial services, trade, the cryptocurrency sector, and fisheries.
One of the key new measures will be a complete EU entry ban on former Russian military personnel involved in the aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, diplomats are working on additional personal sanctions against another 80 Russian companies and individuals.
