Russian hybrid threats: Council sanctions six individuals over information manipulation activities 18:00 The Council adopted restrictive measures against six individuals in[...]

The Council today decided to adopt restrictive measures against an additional six individuals, in light of Russia's continued hybrid activities, in particular Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) against the EU and its member states and partners.

The Council is listing today television presenters Dmitry Guberniev, Ekaterina Andreeva and Maria Sittel, as well as propagandist Pavel Zarubin. They have been working for or supporting Russian propaganda TV channels or hosting propaganda rallies and shows like 'Direct Line with Vladimir Putin', where they are spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine and praising Putin's regime. The new listings further include cultural figures: actor Roman Chumakov and Ukrainian-born Russian ballet dancer Sergey Polunin who are through their work promoting pro-Russian propaganda and conspiracy theories on Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as anti-Ukraine and anti-Western narratives. All of those designated today actively contribute to Russia's war against Ukraine, for instance through the raising of money for the Russian armed forces.

With today's decision, restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities now apply to a total of 65 individuals and 17 entities. Those listed are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. Natural persons also face a travel ban that prohibits them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Background

On 8 October 2024, the Council adopted a framework of restrictive measures in response to Russia's destabilising actions. The sanctions regime targets those engaged in actions and policies by the government of the Russian Federation, which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, stability, independence and integrity. The sanctions regime targets also those responsible for Russia's hybrid activities against third countries and international organisations.

In May 2025, the EU broadened the scope of the restrictive measures framework to allow the targeting of tangible assets linked to Russia's destabilising activities, financial backers of destabilising activities, and to allow for the suspension of the broadcasting licences of Russian media outlets involved in disinformation.

On 18 July 2025, a statement of the High Representative on behalf of the EU strongly condemned persistent malicious activities posed by Russia, which form part of broader, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its member states and its partners. The High Representative stressed that Russian malicious activities have further escalated since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine and are highly likely to persist in the foreseeable future.

On 18 December 2025 the EU Delegation to the UN and OSCE in Vienna published a Statement concerning Russia's destabilising activities in the OSCE region. The EU Delegation underlined that Russia has waged hybrid campaigns against the EU and its member states for years, with malicious activities further escalating since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine and highly likely to persist in the foreseeable future.

The EU and its member states will continue to draw on the full range of tools available to protect, prevent, deter from and respond to such malicious behaviour.

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/260 of 29 January 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/259 of 29 January 2026 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities
• Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities (consolidated text dated 15 December 2025)
• Hybrid threats / Russia: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU condemning Russia's persistent hybrid campaigns against the EU, its Member States and partners (press release, 18 July 2025)
• EU Statement on the Current Issue to be raised by the UK regarding "the Russian Federation's hybrid activities in the OSCE region" (18 December 2025)
• Russia's hybrid activities: EU sanctions (background information)
• EU sanctions against Russia (background information)