Russian energy revenues, trade, crypto and military industries targeted in 20th round of EU sanctions

The 20th package of sanctions against Russia targets key sectors which fuel Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

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.
- Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and chair of the Foreign Affairs Council

European Union

Below is a breakdown of the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia, organised by key areas:

1. Energy Revenues

• Maritime services ban: basis for a future prohibition to transport Russian oil and petroleum products, in full coordination and discussion with the G7 and the Price Cap Coalition (G7 members and other participating countries).
• 36 new designations targeting:
  • Upstream/downstream energy sectors (exploration, extraction, refining, transport).
  • Shadow fleet ecosystem (entities in third countries, maritime insurers).
• Port access bans:
  • 46 additional vessels banned (total: 632), targeting shadow fleet tankers, military equipment transport, and stolen Ukrainian grain.
  • Mandatory due diligence for tanker sales to curb shadow fleet expansion.
• LNG restrictions:
  • Ban on maintenance/services for Russian LNG tankers and ice-breakers.
  • From January 2027: Ban on LNG terminal services for Russian entities.
• Port bans:
  • Transactions banned for EU operators with Murmansk, Tuapse (Russia), and Karimun (Indonesia) for their connection with the shadow fleet and oil price cap circumvention.
    

1. Financial Services & Cryptocurrencies

• Banking sanctions:
  • Transaction ban on 20 Russian banks.
  • Four third-country financial institutions banned for sanctions circumvention or ties to Russia's SPFS (banking network).
• Crypto crackdown:
  • Sectoral ban on Russian crypto providers/platforms.
  • Ban on transactions in RUBx (Russian crypto) and EU operators access for the digital rouble.
  • Designation of a Kyrgyz crypto exchange trading Russia's A7A5 stablecoin.
  • Ban on netting transactions to prevent sanctions evasion.
    

1. Military-Industrial Complex

• 58 new designations:

• European Union

  
  
  
  • Companies/individuals involved in drones, military goods production.
    • Including 16 entities in third countries (China, UAE, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus) supplying dual-use goods/weapons to Russia.
• Export restrictions:
  • 60 new entities face tighter controls on tech enhancing Russia's defence sector (including China/Hong Kong, Türkiye, UAE).
    

1. Trade Restrictions

• Anti-circumvention tool:
  • Ban for EU operators to export CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines (machine tools) and certain radios to Kyrgyzstan (high re-export risk to Russia).
• Expanded export bans(€360M+ value):
  • Laboratory glassware, high-performance lubricants, energetic materials, chemicals, rubber/steel products, industrial tractors.
• Expanded import bans:
  • Raw materials, metals, minerals, steel scraps, chemicals, vulcanised rubber, tanned furs (€570M+ value).
  • Enhanced transit ban via Russian territory.
• Ammonia import quota introduced.
  

1. Accountability for War Crimes

• Child abduction/indoctrination:

• European Union

  
  
  
  • Five individuals + one entity listed for deporting/forcibly assimilating nearly 20 000 Ukrainian children.
• Cultural heritage theft:
  • Four individuals sanctioned for seizing Ukrainian cultural property.
• Propaganda:
  • Four state-linked propagandists designated.

1. Other Measures

• Intellectual property protection:
  • Safeguards for EU companies against unfair expropriation in Russia via abusive court rulings.
• Cybersecurity ban:
  • Prohibition on providing cyber security services to Russia.
• Media restrictions:
  • Expanded broadcasting ban to include mirror sites circumventing EU measures.
• Diamonds:
  • Stricter due diligence for polished diamond importers to exclude Russian-origin stones.
• Tourism:
  • Restrictions on tourism services linked to Russia/Belarus.
    

1. Belarus Sanctions

• Three new listings:
  • Belarusian military-industrial complex.
  • First Chinese state-owned entity targeted for its role in production of Belarusian military goods.
• Mirror measures:
  • Trade restrictions, crypto bans, cybersecurity/tourism services aligned with Russia sanctions.

Background & EU Stance

• The EU continues its unwavering support for Ukraine: €90B loan + military/financial aid.
• Goal: Cripple Russia's war economy, enforce accountability, and push for a just peace based on UN Charter principles (no territorial concessions by force).
• Call for immediate ceasefire and Russia's engagement in meaningful negotiations.

For full details, follow the link the Council of the EU press release: Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: 20th round of stern EU sanctions hits energy revenues, military industrial complex, trade and financial services including crypto

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