EU sanctions over 30 more Russian companies

The [EU's] European Council has imposed sanctions on 87 individuals and 34 legal entities as part of the 10th package.

The decision comes in response to the gravity of the continued Russian full-scale invasion and military aggression against Ukraine, which was launched one year ago, on February 24, 2022, Caliber.Az reports, citing the EU Council’s official website.

The 121 new listings cover various categories of individuals and entities who contribute to the war in their own way:

At the political/institutional level, the European Council imposes sanctions to the key decision-makers, such as:

• new Members of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation since 20 December 2022, including the representative of the illegally annexed so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic” and Deputy Secretary of the General Council of the “United Russia” Party

• 19 Deputy Ministers and a number of Russian Government officials, including Heads of federal agencies

• 4 State Duma MPs

• the All-Russia People’s Front and 5 individuals related to it. The movement All-Russia People’s Front (ONF) is organising a social campaign “All for Victory!” through which it collects physical and financial donations to support the military units of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People's Republic”.

The listings also cover economic actors in sectors providing a substantial source of revenue or supporting financially the government of Russia. The sanctioned entities include banks such as Alfa-Bank, Rosbank, and Tinkoff Bank, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, and the Russian National Reinsurance Company.

The Council is also imposing sanctions on organisations, like Rossiya Segodnya, and individuals including writers, presenters and high-level executives in major TV channels and media groups, propagandists and other personalities. They are polluting the public space with disinformation, adding to the military warfare through information warfare.

Altogether, EU restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to a total of 1,473 individuals and 205 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.