The EU has tightened sanctions. An overview of the 17th package of sanctions against Russia

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The 17^th package of EU sanctions, adopted by the Council of the European Union, represents another significant step in increasing economic and military-industrial pressure on Russia. Against the backdrop of ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the EU is extending existing restrictions and introducing new legal mechanisms that target Russian and foreign actors alike.

A blow against the shadow fleet and sanctions circumvention

A key element of the new package is the addition of 189 more ships involved in circumventing the oil price cap. This is the largest coordinated action taken by the G7 against the so-called “shadow fleet” to date. A total of 342 ships are now banned from port calls and the use of European services.

Thirty-one companies that directly or indirectly support the Russian military–industrial complex or are involved in circumventing sanctions have also been added to the sanctions list. This includes thirteen companies based in third countries, such as Turkey, Vietnam, the UAE and Serbia.

For the first time, sanctions have been imposed on Russian fishing companies, including Murman Sea Food. The company's ships carry equipment with reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities that are used in the waters of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, which is why it has been included on the sanctions list.

Expansion of the sanctions lists

The new round of sanctions includes 75 additional entries (17 individuals and 58 organisations) that have contributed to the undermining of Ukraine's territorial integrity. These include arms companies, logistics and shipping operators (including Volga Shipping), and individuals involved in looting cultural property in occupied territories.

A significant legal change is that: In the run-up to the new sanctions, the burden of proof shifted to the plaintiff — anyone challenging their inclusion on the sanctions list had to prove that they were not a prominent Russian businessman and had no links to the regime.

Further export restrictions

The list of dual-use goods and sensitive technologies has been expanded again. New additions include:

• chemical precursors (sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, aluminium, magnesium and boron powder), which are used as rocket propellants;
• spare parts for CNC-controlled machine tools (e.g. ball screw spindles and encoders), which are essential for Russia's industrial infrastructure supporting arms production.

Additionally, a transit ban on certain goods has been introduced to prevent re-exports to Russia via third countries.

Extension of the “Sakhalin exemption”

To ensure Japan's energy supply, the EU is extending the exemption from the oil price cap for Sakhalin 2 project deliveries until 28 June 2026.

New legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2025/964

​This regulation establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the first time to counter Russia's destabilising activities. The key new measures are as follows:

• Prohibition of transactions involving physical assets linked to Russia's destabilising activities. These include real estate, industrial infrastructure, land, ports, and production capacities.
• Indirectly held assets — for example, via straw men or offshore companies — are also covered by the ban if the beneficial owner is a Russian entity.
• Sanctions will be imposed on third countries and legal entities based outside the EU that provide technical or financial assistance to Russia in circumventing the sanctions.
• A strict ban on disseminating Russian or Kremlin-affiliated media content throughout the EU, including on digital platforms, IPTV, apps and web hosting.
• The criteria for inclusion in the sanctions lists are being expanded to include information operations, migration manipulation, and the undermining of sovereignty and democratic institutions.
• Controls on circumvention structures and beneficial owners are being tightened, including through related companies and networks in offshore jurisdictions.  

The EU stresses that Russia's ongoing attempts to circumvent the sanctions demonstrate their effectiveness, but also highlight the need for constant adjustments and closer international cooperation.​