On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has adopted its 16th package of sanctions. The EU foreign ministers agreed on the package on 24 February 2025. The goal is to further intensify the economic and political pressure on Russia. The package includes reinforced action against the Russian shadow fleet, comprehensive trade restrictions and sanctions in the financial sector, as well as against Russian media outlets.

Reinforced action against Russian shadow fleet

The EU previously banned close to 80 ships from entering ports, as well as banning companies from providing them with services. Another 73 vessels are now being added to the sanctions list. In addition, a number of rules were changed to allow for sanctions to be imposed against the owners and captains of such ships, rather than just against their operators.

Made up of ships with opaque ownership structures, the shadow fleet is used to bypass sanctions. Russia has made increasing use of ageing tankers from third states, as it can no longer readily use its own vessels. In addition to transporting crude oil, there are also concerns that these ships might be used for sabotage operations on subsea infrastructure.

Trade and export restrictions

Comprehensive trade restrictions are a key element of the new package. Among other things, considerable restrictions are now being applied to the import of Russian aluminium and aluminium alloys. In addition, import is banned of certain products that are relevant to the Russian arms industry. These include:

• Chemical precursors
• Chromium
• Certain machine parts
• Devices such as video-game controllers that can be used to pilot drones on the battlefield

In addition, it was agreed to ban transactions with Russian ports and airports that involve the circumvention of the Western oil price cap.

Reinforced sanctions in the financial sector

The EU has adopted further measures in the financial sector, aiming to weaken Russia’s economy. These include:

• Exclusion of another 13 banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system
• Transaction ban for three Russian banks
• Ban on the provision of services for Russian oil and gas refineries

Enhanced list of sanctioned individuals and organisations

The EU has also extended its list of sanctioned individuals, organisations and facilities that cooperate with Russia’s military-industrial complex. Another 48 individuals and 35 companies and organisations were added that are now subject to asset freezes and are banned from entering the EU.

Sanctions against Russian media outlets

With its new measures, the EU has suspended the broadcasting licenses of eight Russian media outlets in an effort to fight a spread of propaganda and disinformation from Russia.

With its 16th package of sanctions, the EU has once more intensified the economic and political pressure on Russia. The goal of the measures is to increase the price Russia has to pay for continuing its war. The EU continues to demonstrate its determination to intensify sanctions if Russia continues its aggression.

A detailed overview of the EU’s sanctions against Russia and an overview of the effects of the sanctions can be found on the European Council’s website.

15th package of sanctions adopted in December 2024

In December 2024, the EU adopted another package of sanctions against Russia, aiming to make it more difficult to circumvent existing measures and to further weaken the Russian military-industrial complex. For the first time, the measures also concern Chinese enterprises that supply Russia with components that can be used for military purposes.

Additions to the sanctions list

The Council determined 84 new listings, including 54 individuals and 30 organisations that contribute to destabilisation of Ukraine. Among those listed are members of the military unit responsible for the striking of the Okhmadyt children hospital in Kyiv and managers of Russian energy companies. For the first time, sanctions were also imposed on Chinese enterprises that supply Russia with drone components and micro-electronics.

Measures against Putin’s shadow fleet 

In order to prevent circumvention of sanctions, a total of 79 vessels from third states were listed which are part of the so-called shadow fleet. These ships are used to circumvent the price cap for Russian oil and to support Russia’s energy sector. Sanctions were also imposed on ships used for transporting military equipment and those linked to the theft of Ukrainian grain.

Stricter trade restrictions

32 additional organisations were added to the list of sanctioned entities, including enterprises in China, India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates. These are now subject to stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technology, as well as goods and technology items that could be used for strengthening the Russian defence and security sector.

Protecting European enterprises 

The Council also prohibited the recognition of Russian court rulings designed to stop European enterprises from taking legal action outside Russia. Furthermore, measures were introduced to promote economic stability. These include rules for the release of cash balances held by European central securities depositories and extended deadlines for the orderly withdrawal of European companies from Russia.

14th package of sanctions adopted in June 2024 

In view of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has adopted another sanctions package. The EU foreign ministers agreed on the package on 24 June. The 14th package of sanctions aims, in particular, to ensure more effective measures against the circumvention of existing sanctions. In addition, it provides for restrictions on Russian liquid natural gas. Political parties, foundations and NGOs are no longer allowed to accept any funding from Russia, and sanctions were imposed on 69 individuals and 47 organisations.

Anti-circumvention measures

The new package of sanctions applies to companies who have been circumventing the existing sanctions through financial transactions and delivery of banned EU goods, in particular. The newly listed companies include, for example, an enterprise that was involved in circumvention of EU sanctions by facilitating transport of weapons from North Korea to Russia. Russian arms companies were also added to the list.

Restrictions on Russian liquid natural gas

Transshipment of Russian LNG in European ports for further transport outside the EU will be prohibited in future. Furthermore, an investment and supply ban has been introduced on Russian LNG export projects.

Enhanced sanctions list

The sanctions now apply to more than 2,200 individuals, companies and institutions. The newly listed individuals include several business people, propagandists and public figures, representatives of the army and the justice system, individuals who are responsible for deportation of Ukrainian children, and members of the Russian Federation’s Federal Security Service who are involved in religious persecution in illegally annexed Crimea, as well as government representatives.

These individuals are subject to travel bans within or through the EU as well as asset freezes, and EU citizens are banned from providing any funding to them. 

13th package of sanctions adopted in February 2024

On the second anniversary of Russia’s attack against Ukraine in violation of international law, the European Union has adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia. The package provides for asset freezes to be imposed on close to another 200 individuals, companies and institutions in the EU. Russian drone production is to be subjected to considerable sanctions in this context, too.

Banning military support from the EU

The current sanctions apply to companies that provide Russia with military and technology support or contribute to the development of Russia’s defence and security sector. This prohibits the sale of dual-use goods from the EU. The goal is to maintain strong pressure on the listed parties, aiming to further weaken Vladimir Putin’s war machinery.

Long sanctions list

Coming into force on 24 February 2024, this is the biggest extension of the sanctions list to date: 106 individuals and 88 entities were added to the EU sanctions list that now comprises more than 2,000 entries.

• Sanctions continue to focus on the Russian military and defence sector. More than 140 companies and individuals in the military industry were recently listed whose activities focus on the production of missiles, drones, air defence systems, military vehicles, high-tech arms components and other military equipment.
• The EU’s key concern is to further reduce circumvention of sanctions, which is why the new listings include ten Russian companies and individuals that are involved in transporting armaments from North Korea to Russia. The list was also extended to include North Korean defence minister and a number of companies and individuals from Belarus who have been supporting the Russian forces.

Further trade restrictions

The new sanctions are designed to prevent Russia from buying problematic components used for developing and building combat drones. Companies that supply Russia with key drone components were also listed, and sanctions have been imposed in certain sectors to close loopholes and make drone warfare more complicated.

Another 27 companies from Russia and third states were added to the list. These companies cooperate closely with the Russian military-industrial complex, and they are now subject to stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technology, as well as goods and technology items that could be used for strengthening the Russian defence and security sector. 

12th package of sanctions adopted in December 2023

The sanctions against Russia were already intensified in December 2023. The 12th sanctions package focused on import and export bans, such as banning the import of Russian diamonds to Europe. Furthermore, opportunities for using tankers to circumvent the oil price cap are to be monitored more closely. Responsibilities linked to the tracing of assets have been stepped up, and strict measures were taken against companies in third states that have been circumventing sanctions. The 12th sanctions list was also extended. The assets of more than 140 individuals and entities were frozen.

The Federal Government fully supports the EU sanctions against Russia and is calling for the EU members states to continue to respond jointly and resolutely to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its annexation of Ukrainian regions in violation of international law.

The 12th sanctions package focussed on the following aspects: 

• An import ban on Russian diamonds to enter into effect on 1 January 2024 (in line with an agreement at the G7 level).
• Measures to improve enforcement of the oil price cap.
• An import ban on LPG products following a 12-month transition period.
• A mandatory no-Russia clause to be used by exporters to contractually ban their customers from taking critical high-tech goods to Russia.
• An import ban on raw materials for steel production.
• Further export bans concerning dual-use and high-tech items.
• A notification obligation for financial transactions by EU companies in third states that are controlled by Russia.
• Clarification that the sanctions do not apply to goods brought to Russia privately (using passenger cars in particular).
• Listing of another 61 individuals and 86 entities. A total of 1,645 individuals and 335 entities have therefore been listed to date.

Detailed information about the twelfth sanctions package is available on the European Council’s website.

In recent months, the EU has worked with international partners to adopt swingeing sanctions against individuals and organisations in the finance, energy and transport sectors, along with imposing visa restrictions. Here is an overview of the sanctions imposed to date:

Financial sector:

• Russian banks were excluded from the SWIFT system. In real terms, this means that these institutions have been cut off from accessing the international flow of money. In practice, they cannot participate in international payment transactions, which severely limits their ability to act on the global stage.
• The EU has also banned transactions by the Russian central bank and frozen all its assets, and is training its sights on the assets of Russian oligarchs. Wide-ranging restrictions were imposed on the Russian central bank to prevent it from accessing its foreign currency reserves.
• In concrete terms, this means that more than 70 percent of the Russian banking market and key state-owned enterprises – including in the defence sector – are cut off from the main capital markets.
• The assets of Russian IT companies that supply the Russian secret service with critical technology and software are frozen.
• Sanctions were imposed against two banks that are active in the occupied areas.

A taskforce has been set up to ensure the swingeing sanctions are implemented in full and without any loopholes. The taskforce will be led jointly by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the Federal Ministry of Finance. The EU has also set up a taskforce.

Energy sector:

• Export bans were imposed with a particular focus on making it impossible for Russia to modernise its oil refineries. 
• The reason why this is very relevant is that sales of refined oil to the EU brought in 24 billion euros for Russia in 2019, making Russia extremely dependent on these deliveries.
• In addition, an import ban on Russian coal was agreed.
• The EU also imposed an embargo on shipments of Russian oil (with a transition period).
• The legal conditions have been established for the introduction of an oil price cap.
• It will no longer be possible to bring Russian oil to Germany and Poland via pipelines.

Transport sector:

• EU airspace has been closed to all aircraft in Russian ownership, registered in Russia or controlled by Russia. These aircraft are no longer able to land and take off in or fly over the EU area.
• It is now forbidden to export, sell, deliver or transfer aircraft or equipment to Russian airlines. This ban includes all associated repair, maintenance and financing services.
• In concrete terms, this means that due to the fact that three quarters of Russia’s aircraft fleet was built in the EU, the US or Canada, Russia will no longer be able to continue using its fleet in compliance with international standards.
• There is also a ban on direct exports of motors for drones to Russia and third states that might supply Russia with drones.
• In addition, ports, harbours and locks in EU countries are closed to Russian shipping. Exceptions apply, such as to ships transporting pharmaceutical, medical or agricultural products or food. 
• The EU has also banned Russian road transport companies from entering the EU, albeit with exceptions for agricultural products and food, amongst other things.
• The European Commission has published guidelines on goods transport between the Kaliningrad region and Russia.
• The sanctions include a full ban on the transport of goods to the EU using lorries with Russian trailers and semi-trailers.
• Vessels performing ship-to-ship transfer activities that are assumed to be breaching the Russian oil import ban or the G7 price cap coalition are not permitted to enter EU ports.

Industrial sector: 

• Russia’s ability to access key technologies such as semiconductors, the latest software and dual-use goods has been now restricted.
• The sanctions also include import bans on steel products, wood, cement and other products that represent major sources of income for Russia.
• Export bans also apply to chemical precursors and chemicals that can be used to manufacture weapons.
• The export ban on dual-use and advanced-tech goods has been expanded to include further items that might be used for developing industrial production in Russia. Dual-use goods are items that can be used for civil as well as military purposes.
• The import ban concerning goods with which Russia generates considerable income has been expanded. These goods are: bitumen, asphalt, carbon and synthetic rubber.
• A new instrument was introduced to fight circumvention of sanctions. This instrument enables the EU to restrict the sale, delivery, transfer and export of certain goods and technologies that are subject to sanctions.
• The transit ban has been broadened on certain problematic goods (such as high-tech items and aviation-related materials) that are exported from the EU to third states via Russia.

Granting of visas:

• Diplomats, business professionals and similar groups have lost their privileged access to the European Union.

Individual restrictions on persons and institutions:

The sanctions also target numerous individuals and institutions in Russia and abroad that support the war against Ukraine or are responsible for it. Those affected include President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, members of the Russian National Security Council, Duma representatives, Kremlin spokesman Peskov, representatives of the military and numerous oligarchs. Including earlier sanctions imposed against individuals following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the EU has imposed sanctions against around 1,800 individuals and organisations. The European Council has published an overview.