The EU Council adopted sanctions, on Monday 15 June, against 34 individuals and 47 entities.
The EU notably imposed restrictive measures against seven individuals and 21 entities supporting the Russian military-industrial complex and its accomplices in third countries, including drone manufacturers and suppliers. These include JSC ‘Lavochkin Research and Production Association’, founded by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the companies Rustakt, ASFPV and IONOS, and the Chinese companies Shenzhen Minghuaxin and Xinxiang Richful Lubricant Additive Company. ERA Military Innovation Technopolis and the Foundation for Advanced Studies, two bodies created by the Russian government to develop unmanned systems for military purposes, are subject to sanctions.
Two individuals – the founder of Coral Energy, Tahir Garayev, and Konstantin Rogach, a maritime insurance broker and associate of the company Maritime Risk Management – and 24 entities linked to the shipment and export of Russian crude oil or petroleum products, notably with the Russian ‘shadow fleet’, have also been sanctioned. These notably include Lukoil-Western Siberia and companies based in Russia, Liberia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and Hong Kong.
The EU is also sanctioning 10 individuals and one entity linked to Russia’s hybrid activities. These notably include several Russian propagandists: Anatoly Kuzichev, Kirill Fedorov, Roman Antonovskii and Maria Volkonskaya. Alexandra Jost, a social media influencer living in Russia, and Georgiy Shevkunov, a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church who plays an active role in spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation, are also covered.
Lastly, one entity - the facial recognition technology company IPJSC NTK - and 15 individuals - Russian judges and prosecutors, members of law enforcement bodies, the FSB and medical staff - considered by the EU to be involved in the persecution, poisoning and death of Alexei Navalny - are subject to measures.
The Council also decided to renew the restrictive measures introduced by the EU in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, and to extend those measures until 23 June 2027.
See the legal acts: https://aeur.eu/f/mch
Further strengthening sanctions. Beyond those decisions, the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, stated, at the end of the Council meeting in Luxembourg, that the ministers had “stressed the need to accelerate” work on the 21st package of sanctions.
“The time has come to exert even more pressure on Russia”, stressed the Swedish minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard. In a letter dated 11 June addressed, notably, to the President of the Commission, the High Representative and the Presidency of the EU Council, the minister calls for the swift adoption of the 21st package of sanctions, the continuation of strong energy measures, including the adoption of sanctions against the main Russian oil companies, but also for strict enforcement of the rules against the Russian ‘shadow fleet’.
See the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/mcs
The Lithuanian minister, Kęstutis Budrys, went further, once again regretting that the package of measures does not concern Russian energy groups and companies, including Rosatom, Rosneft and Lukoil, or the banning of maritime services. “This is very important to prevent any possibility of the ‘shadow fleet’ being used in European ports and to deter European companies from taking part in it”, he explained.
Condemnation of the latest strikes on Kyiv. On their arrival at the Council, the High Representative and the ministers condemned the latest Russian strikes on Kyiv, notably against civilians and against the Dormition Cathedral, one of the churches in the Orthodox complex of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, describing them as “unacceptable”. At least nine people are believed to have died. “These are all war crimes that Russia is committing”, denounced Kaja Kallas. According to her, the attack on the cathedral highlights “the absurdity of Russia’s claims to be the defender of Christianity”.
The Dormition Cathedral is “one of the holiest places in the Christian world”, stressed Kęstutis Budrys. “For Russia, there are no red lines”, he denounced.
According to Kęstutis Budrys, more than 8,000 missiles and drones were launched at Kyiv in the month of May alone. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)