Brussels expands restrictions on Russian media, key economic sectors

The Council of the European Union has expanded existing broadcasting restrictions on Russian media outlets as part of a sweeping 20th package of sanctions targeting Moscow’s economy and war-related infrastructure.

The measures form part of a far-reaching set of restrictive actions, including 120 additional individual listings—the largest sanctions update in two years—alongside broad economic restrictions aimed at key sectors supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The sanctions package focuses on Russia’s energy revenues, military-industrial complex, trade and financial services, including cryptocurrency-related activities.

Officials said the latest measures are intended to further weaken Russia’s economy and war machine, while reaffirming the EU’s continued support for Ukraine. Brussels described the situation as a “recent brutal campaign deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities.”

“The EU remains determined to maintain and increase pressure on Russia to stop its brutal war of aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting peace,” the statement said.

Officials also stressed: “today we have finally broken the deadlock. On top of the €90-billion-loan for Ukraine, we have also adopted the 20th sanctions package. The EU will provide Ukraine what it needs to hold its ground while we inhibit those enabling Russia’s illegal aggression. Russia’s war economy is under growing strain, while Ukraine is getting a major boost. We must keep up this pressure until Putin understands his war leads nowhere.”

The new measures introduce stronger legal safeguards designed to protect EU companies from violations of intellectual property rights or unfair expropriation in Russia resulting from abusive court rulings linked to sanctions. The EU is also imposing a ban on the provision of cybersecurity services to Russia.

In addition, the Council has expanded broadcasting restrictions to include mirror sites used to circumvent EU sanctions. Authorities stressed that, in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the measures do not prevent targeted media outlets and their staff from carrying out other activities within the EU, such as research and interviews.

The package also tightens traceability requirements for diamonds, requiring importers of polished diamonds to submit due diligence statements confirming that the stones were not mined, processed, or produced in Russia.

By Vafa Guliyeva