New round of sanctions targeting the Russian shadow fleet

According to Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the new package of sanctions is "the most wide-sweeping since the start of the war, together with new hybrid, human rights, and chemical weapons-related sanctions". 

Similarly, the UK announced on 9 May that the new package of sanctions targeting the Russian shadow fleet will "turn up the pressure on Russia's economy, which is reeling thanks to lower oil prices and the high costs of the war". Today, the UK also announced an additional 100 designations in response to the Russian drone attacks in Ukraine on Saturday. 

The EU's 17th package of sanctions

Last week, EU ambassadors approved the new package, which was formally adopted today. According to Kaja Kallas, the EU is "upping the pressure on Russia to end its war", and the new package also targets Russia's hybrid activities, domestic violations of human rights and the use of riot control agents by Russian forces in Ukraine, utilising all active sanctions regimes against Russia. 

The new package includes the designation of an additional 189 vessels associated with the Russian shadow fleet. Asset freeze restrictions have also been imposed on the "shadow fleet ecosystem", including shipping companies and one insurance company (Insurance Joint Stock Company "VSK"). Around 20 individuals and entities have also been designated on the basis of countering vessels and entities involved in sabotage of underwater cables, airports or servers, under the hybrid threats regime.

In addition to the shadow fleet, the new package is targeting companies in third countries involved in supplying goods, including dual-use goods, to the Russian military. More than 75 individuals and entities are designated for their links to Russia's military industrial complex. Additionally, the EU introduced further restrictions on goods which contribute to Russia's military and technological enhancement, the development of its defence and security sector and the development of its military systems, including chemical precursors to energetic materials and spare parts for machine tools. 

28 individuals and entities are also designated under the human rights regime for disseminating misinformation, as well as judges and prosecutors involved in, among others, the case against the late Alexei Navalny. 

New designations also include individuals and entities involved in looting of cultural heritage in Crimea and illegal exploitation of Ukrainian agriculture production. 

The new designations are available in Council Decision 2025/936, and we expect the additional measures, including trade restrictions and additional vessels subject to a port ban, will be made available in the EU Journal shortly. The human rights designations are available in Council Decision 2025/957, the hybrid threats designations are available in Council Regulation 2025/2643, and the chemical weapons designations are available in Council Regulation 2025/960 (press release available here).

The UK's largest package targeting the shadow fleet

Similarly, the UK adopted its largest package to date targeting the Russian shadow fleet earlier this month. The new measures included 100 vessels involved in the transportation of Russian oil being designated on the asset freeze list, in addition to one vessel being designated for being involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia. Additionally, five individuals and two entities were designated for being involved in the Russian energy sector, and two insurance companies were designated for being involved in the Russian financial services sector. The latter includes the Norwegian company Romarine AS, involved in a marine insurance fraud scheme linked to the Russian shadow fleet. 

The UK responds to Russian drone attacks

Today, the UK also announced an additional 100 designations in response to Russian drone attacks last week. The new measures target Russia's military, energy and financial sector, and seeks, among other things, to curtail the supply chains of deadly Russian weapon systems. According to the press release, the new measures "comes as the EU prepares to announce its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, in a co-ordinated effort to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine". The UK also added an additional 18 vessels to the asset freeze list.