The 16th package of sanctions against Russia is timed to the third anniversary of the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions have been imposed against 48 individuals and 35 legal entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. These are structures supporting the Russian military-industrial complex and foreign companies helping Moscow purchase sanctioned goods.
Among the individuals are propagandist Kristina Potupchik, comedian Mikhail Galustyan, senator and chess player Sergey Karyakin. The sanctions also affected businessman and owner of AFK Sistema Vladimir Yevtushenkov, CEO of Almaz-Antey Yan Novikov, head of UAC Vadim Badekha, members of the Federation Council's defense committee senators Yuri Nimchenko and Andrey Derkach.
The package includes sanctions against ports and airports. This includes Moscow airports Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, four regional airports, and ports in Ust-Luga, Novorossiysk, Astrakhan, and Makhachkala.
Also affected by the restrictions are 74 tankers of the shadow Russian fleet that transport Russian oil bypassing sanctions.
The new restrictions include a ban on broadcasting in Europe for eight Russian media outlets: EADaily, Lenta, NewsFront, RuBaltic, SouthFront, "Strategic Culture Foundation" and "Red Star" (TV channel "Zvezda").
In addition, 13 Russian banks were disconnected from the international payment system SWIFT. Additional restrictions were introduced on the export of certain goods, including chemicals, certain types of plastics and rubber, as well as on the import of primary processed aluminum.
For the first time in the new package of sanctions, the EU imposes restrictions against non-Russian financial organizations using the Financial Message Transfer System (SPFS). Foreign banks are now prohibited from using the Russian equivalent of SWIFT, created by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
Dual-use goods are banned. For example, gaming controllers, which, according to the commission, are used to control drones, software for manufacturing machines, chemical precursors, including chloropicrin, which can be used by law enforcement to disperse protests.
"For three years now, Russia has been relentlessly bombing Ukraine, trying to steal land that does not belong to it. This new round of sanctions targets not only the Russian shadow fleet but also those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, gaming controllers used to control drones, banks used to bypass our sanctions, and propaganda channels used to spread lies. There is no doubt about who the aggressor is, who should pay and be held accountable for this war. Each package of sanctions deprives the Kremlin of the means to wage war. In the context of negotiations to end Russian aggression, we must put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. Sanctions provide leverage," said the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas.