EU: Sanctions Against Russia - Sanctions' Packages Explained

The EU has sanctioned Russia by ever-expanding legislation - in so-called "packages". We explain what was introduced under each package.

First package (23 February 2022)

• individual sanctions against members of the Russian State Duma who voted in favour of the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts

• restrictions on economic relations with the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts

• restrictions on Russia's access to the EU’s capital and financial markets and services

• Russian recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities: EU adopts a package of sanctions (press release, 23 February 2022)

Second package (25 February 2022)

• individual sanctions against Vladimir Putin, Sergey Lavrov and members of the Russian State Duma and National Security Council, among others

• economic sanctions covering the finance, energy, transport and technology sectors

• suspension of visa facilitation provisions for Russian diplomats and other Russian officials and businesspeople

• Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: EU imposes sanctions against President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and adopts wide-ranging individual and economic sanctions (press release, 25 February 2022)

Third package (28 February and 2 March 2022)

• closure of EU airspace to all Russian aircraft

• prohibition on transactions with the Russian Central Bank

• SWIFT ban for seven Russian banks

• prohibition on the provision of euro-denominated banknotes to Russia

• suspension of broadcasting in the EU of state-owned outlets Russia Today and Sputnik

• individual sanctions against Belarusians in response to Belarus' involvement in Russia’s military invasion

• EU adopts new set of measures to respond to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine (press release, 28 February 2022)

• Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: Council imposes sanctions on 26 persons and one entity (press release, 28 February 2022)

• EU imposes sanctions on state-owned outlets RT/Russia Today and Sputnik’s broadcasting in the EU (press release, 2 March 2022)

• Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: EU bans certain Russian banks from the SWIFT system and introduces further restrictions (press release, 2 March 2022)

• Belarus’ role in the Russian military aggression of Ukraine: Council imposes sanctions on an additional 22 individuals and further restrictions on trade (press release, 2 March 2022)

Sanctions against Belarus (9 March 2022)

• SWIFT ban for three Belarusian banks

• prohibition on transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus

• limits on financial inflows from Belarus to the EU

• prohibition on the provision of euro-denominated banknotes to Belarus

• Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: EU agrees new sectoral measures targeting Belarus and Russia (press release, 9 March 2022)

Infographic - Impact of sanctions on the Russian economy See full infographic

Fourth package of sanctions (15 March 2022)

• individual sanctions against Roman Abramovich and German Khan, among others

• prohibition on all transactions with certain state-owned enterprises

• prohibition on the provision of credit-rating services to any Russian person or entity

• prohibition on new investments in the Russian energy sector

• prohibition on exports to Russia of luxury goods

• prohibition on imports from Russia to the EU of iron and steel

• Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: fourth EU package of sectoral and individual measures (press release, 15 March 2022)

• Fourth package of sanctions: 15 additional individuals and 9 entities subject to EU restrictive measures (press release, 15 March 2022)

Fifth package of sanctions (8 April 2022)

• prohibition on imports from Russia of coal and other solid fossil fuels

• closure of EU ports to all Russian vessels

• prohibition on Russian and Belarusian road transport operators from entering the EU

• prohibition on imports from Russia of wood, cement, seafood and liquor

• prohibition on exports to Russia of jet fuel and other goods

• a series of targeted economic measures

• sanctions against 217 individuals and 18 entities

• EU adopts fifth round of sanctions against Russia over its military aggression against Ukraine (press release, 8 April 2022)

• EU adopts restrictive measures against an additional 217 individuals and 18 entities (press release, 8 April 2022)

Sixth package of sanctions (3 June 2022)

• prohibition on imports from Russia of crude oil and refined petroleum products (with limited exceptions)

• SWIFT ban for an additional three Russian banks and one Belarusian bank

• suspension of broadcasting in the EU for Rossiya RTR / RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24 / Russia 24 and TV Centre International

• sanctions against 18 entities and 65 individuals, including individuals responsible for the atrocities committed in Bucha and Mariupol

• Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts sixth package of sanctions (press release, 3 June 2022)

• Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: the EU targets additional 65 individuals and 18 entities (press release, 3 June 2022)

“Maintenance and alignment” package (21 July 2022)

• prohibition on imports of Russian-origin gold

• reinforcement of export controls of dual-use goods

• extension of the port access ban to locks

• clarification of existing measures, for instance in the field of public procurement, aviation and justice

• sanctions against 54 individuals and 10 entities, including the mayor of Moscow and Sberbank, a major financial institution

• Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts “maintenance and alignment” package (press release, 21 July 2022)

• Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: the EU targets additional 54 individuals and 10 entities (press release, 22 July 2022)

Eighth package of sanctions (6 October 2022)

• a price cap related to the maritime transport of Russian oil for third countries

• restrictions on exports of dual-use goods and technology

• prohibition on provision of crypto-wallets to Russian persons

• prohibition on trade in arms, civilian firearms, ammunition, military vehicles and paramilitary equipment

• prohibition on imports from Russia of steel products

• prohibition to provide architectural and engineering services, IT consultancy services and legal advisory services to Russia

• sanctions against 30 persons and 7 entities

• EU adopts its latest package of sanctions against Russia over the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions (press release, 6 October 2022)

• EU adopts restrictive measures against an additional 30 individuals and 7 entities (press release, 6 October 2022)

Ninth package of sanctions (16 December 2022)

• prohibition on exports of drone engines

• restrictions on exports of dual-use goods and technology

• prohibition on investments in the mining sector

• prohibition on transactions with the Russian Regional Development Bank

• prohibition on the provision of advertising, market research and public opinion polling services

• suspension of the broadcasting licenses of four additional Russian media outlets

• sanctions against an additional 141 individuals and 49 entities

• Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts 9th package of economic and individual sanctions (press release, 16 December 2022)

• Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: the EU blacklists additional 141 individuals and 49 entities (press release, 16 December 2022)

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Tenth package of sanctions (25 February 2023)

• prohibition on exports of critical technology and industrial goods

• prohibition on imports of asphalt and synthetic rubber

• prohibition on provision of gas storage capacity to Russians

• suspension of broadcasting licenses of RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic

• restrictions for Russian nationals to hold any position in the governing bodies of EU critical infrastructures and entities

• reporting obligations to ensure the effectiveness of sanctions

• additional sanctions against 87 individuals and 34 entities

• EU adopts its 10th package of economic and individual sanctions (press release, 25 February 2023)

• EU includes additional 87 individuals and 34 entities to the sanctions list (press release, 25 February 2023)

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Eleventh package of sanctions (23 June 2023)

• strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with third countries to impede sanctions’ circumvention

• prohibition on transit via the territory of Russia of more goods and technology

• tighter export restrictions concerning dual use goods and technologies

• suspension of broadcasting licences to five additional media outlets: RT Balkan, Oriental Review, Tsargrad, New Eastern Outlook and Katehon

• prohibition to transport goods into the EU by road to trailers and semi-trailers registered in Russia

• prohibition of access to EU ports and locks to any vessels that engage in ship-to-ship transfers

• additional sanctions against 71 individuals and 33 entities

• Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts 11th package of economic and individual sanctions (press release, 23 June 2023)

• 11th package of sanctions on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: additional 71 individuals and 33 entities included in the EU’s sanctions list and new tools to counter circumvention and information warfare (press release, 23 June 2023)

Twelfth package of sanctions (18 December 2023)

These measures target high-value sectors of the Russian economy and make it more difficult to circumvent EU sanctions.

The agreed package includes the following measures:

• prohibition on the direct or indirect import, purchase or transfer of diamonds including jewellery from Russia

• no russia clause (a new clause which applies to EU exporters and bans the re-exportation to Russia and re-exportation for use in Russia of certain goods)

• strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with third countries to impede sanctions’ circumvention

• tighter export restrictions concerning dual use goods and technologies

• enforcement of oil price cap

• further restrictions on imports of goods which generate significant revenues for Russia such as; pig iron, copper and aluminium wires, foil tubes and pipes

• prohibition on the import of liquefied propane

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