EU imposes new sanctions on Russia

The EU on Saturday released its 10th package of sanctions against Russia targeting 87 individuals and 34 entities to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

The package aims to sever ties between the EU and Russia by more than EUR 10bn and exclude more Russian banks from the global SWIFT system. 

The EU negotiators reached the required unanimity on the sanctions with just two hours to spare before midnight Friday, overcoming Poland’s objections over restrictions on imports of Russian rubber.

Sanctions target banks, media, tech, arms parts

The sanctions include increased trade restrictions on Russia and measures to impede financing and access to tech equipment and spare armoury parts.   

The published list of sanctioned entities includes several of nuclear firm Rosatom’s enterprises, organs of the Russian Defence Ministry, Russian Foreign Intelligence, Alfa Bank, Rosbank and Tinkoff Bank, and media outlets Patriot, Russia Today and Sputnik. 

The measures are also designed to blacklist additional individuals, including Russian propagandists and those responsible for deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. 

The list, published in the Official Journal of the EU, names the hawkish Moscow councillor Vyacheslav Dukhin, and Yevgeny Primakov, who leads the Rossotrudnichestvo organisation responsible for pro-invasion rallies in several EU countries.

Sanctions were also imposed on four Iranians, including the director of the state-owned aerospace Qods Aviation Industry Company.

EU Presidency vows to back Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’

The Swedish EU presidency tweeted: “It’s one year since Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine.  Today, the EU approved the 10th package of Russian sanctions. The package includes… tighter export restrictions regarding dual-use and technology.

“Targeted restricted measures against individuals and entities supporting the war, spreading propaganda or delivering drones used by Russia in the war,” the official Swedish EU presidency Twitter account wrote.

“Together, the EU Member States have imposed the most forceful and far-reaching sanctions ever to help Ukraine win the war.  The EU stands united with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We will keep supporting Ukraine, for as long as it takes,” the Swedish EU presidency added.

US, UK follow suit, as Zelenskyy backs sanctions

Ukraine, the US and the UK also announced new sanctions on Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said pressure on Moscow should increase and called for sanctions against Russia’s nuclear sector.

“The 10th EU sanctions package targets Russia’s military industry, propaganda and financial system,” he tweeted.

“The pressure on the Russian aggressor must increase: we expect decisive steps against Rosatom and the Russian nuclear industry, more pressure on the military and banking,” Zelenskyy wrote.