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The Council of the EU has adopted its 14th package of sanctions against Russia and implemented new sanctions for Sudan and in response to cyber-attacks.
The EU has imposed new restrictive measures on an additional 69 individuals and 47 entities involved in actions undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.
Payments firms will need to update their sanctions compliance protocols and ensure that they are not allowing newly sanctioned individuals or entities to use their systems to circumvent the EU’s measures.
This latest round of sanctions targets a wide array of individuals, including businesspeople, propagandists, public figures, military personnel, judiciary members and officials from the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) involved in religious persecution in illegally annexed Crimea.
Among the notable individuals sanctioned are those responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children.
The sanctioned entities encompass various sectors. Some companies are accused of circumventing existing EU sanctions through financial transactions and the delivery of prohibited goods.
A company operating the Vostochny port has been implicated in shipping weapons and ammunition from North Korea to Russia.
Other listed companies include those from the Russian military and defence industries, providers of dual-use technologies, and firms facilitating the transport of weapons and military personnel to the war zone.
The EU has also designated the Volga Dnepr Group and its subsidiaries for their role in supporting Russia's military-industrial complex, along with its shareholders.
Sovcomflot, Russia's largest shipping company, which specialises in the transport of liquefied gas, crude oil and petroleum products, is also on the list, as is its CEO, as well as other major energy sector companies.
In the social sector, the EU sanctioned the International Children’s Center Artek, the Kadyrov Foundation and the Belarusian Republican Youth Union.
These organisations are involved in re-educational programmes and the deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories. Several of their prominent representatives have also been blacklisted.
With this latest package, EU sanctions now affect more than 2,200 individuals and entities linked to actions threatening Ukraine's sovereignty.
Those sanctioned are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing funds to them. The sanctioned individuals also face travel bans, barring them from entering or transiting through EU territories.
EU imposes sanctions on six individuals relating to ongoing Sudan conflict
The EU Council has also imposed sanctions on six individuals undermining Sudan's stability amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Sanctioned from the RSF are General Abdulrahman Juma Barakallah, who is responsible for atrocities in West Darfur, the RSF’s financial advisor, and a prominent Mahamid clan leader. On the SAF side, sanctions target both the director general of Defense Industry System and Sudanese Air Force Commander El Tahir Mohamed El Awad El Amin for indiscriminate bombings, as well as former foreign minister Ali Ahmed Karti Mohamed.
As with the Russian sanctions packages, these individuals face an asset freeze, travel bans within the EU and a prohibition on receiving funds.
The Sudan sanctions regime now covers six individuals and six entities.
EU sanctions six individuals for cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure
The Council has also approved sanctions on six individuals for cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure and state functions in EU member states.
For the first time, it is taking measures against cybercriminals who are using ransomware against essential services such as health and banking.
Sanctioned individuals include Ruslan Peretyatko and Andrey Korinets of the Russian "Callisto group", responsible for phishing campaigns against EU states.
Also targeted are Oleksandr Sklianko and Mykola Chernykh of the FSB-supported "Armageddon hacker group", known for cyber-attacks on EU and Ukrainian governments.
Additionally, Mikhail Tsarev and Maksim Galochkin, key figures in the "Wizard Spider" group, deploying "Conti" and "Trickbot" malware, are sanctioned. These actions have caused significant economic damage in the EU.
The EU cyber sanctions now affect 14 individuals and four entities, imposing asset freezes, travel bans and prohibiting EU entities from providing funds to those listed.
“With these new listings, the EU and its member states reaffirm their willingness to step up efforts to provide a stronger and more sustained response to persistent malicious cyber activities targeting the EU, its member states and partners,” said the Council in a press statement.
“This is in line with joint efforts with our international partners, such as the UK and the US, to disrupt and respond to cyber crime,” the statement says. “The EU remains committed to a global, open, and secure cyberspace and reiterates the need to strengthen international cooperation to promote the rules-based order in this area.”
