New EU Sanctions
On 15 June 2026, legal acts were published expanding the lists of persons subject to EU blocking sanctions, including:• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1361 implementing Regulation (EU) No. 269/2014 (“Regulation No. 1361”);
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1356 implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2024/2642 (“Regulation No. 1356”); and
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1362 implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2024/1485 (“Regulation No. 1362”).
In its press release, the EU notes that the new sanctions “will further constrain the Russian military-industrial complex, curb Russia’s energy revenues by targeting its shadow fleet ecosystem, and disrupt hybrid threats and violations of human rights.”
It is worth noting that such measures consist of additional inclusions in the sanctions lists under several EU sanctions programmes simultaneously; they do not constitute the EU’s 21st sanctions package, work on which is still ongoing.
Expansion of the EU sanctions lists
The list of EU blocking sanctions has been expanded by imposing restrictions on 34 individuals and 47 legal entities. The new inclusions were made under three EU sanctions programmes.Under Regulation No. 1361 blocking sanctions were imposed on:
- seven individuals and 21 legal entities supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex, including persons from third countries; and
- two individuals and 24 legal entities involved in the transportation and export of crude oil and petroleum products originating from Russia, including through the use of the so-called “shadow fleet.”
Among those operating in the Russian energy sector, the following have been subject to blocking sanctions: Tahir Garayev and Konstantin Rogach, as well as a number of companies registered in Russia (Lukoil-Western Siberia LLC, Gazpromneft Shipping LLC, Kontur SPB LLC, Morskoy Standart-Bunker LLC, etc.), Liberia (Moonstone Maritime Corporation), Turkey (Trans KA Tankers Management Company Limited, East Gemi İşletmeciliği AS and EMT Gemi İşletmeciliği AS), the UAE (Alacritas Shipping FZE, Albatross Shipmanagement LLC-FZ, Dreamer Shipmanagement LLC-FZ, etc.), Azerbaijan (Global Ship Solutions LLC) and Hong Kong (Glory Shipping HK Limited).
Under Regulation No. 1356 blocking sanctions were imposed on 10 individuals and one legal entity involved in so-called “destabilising activities.” In particular, Anatoly Kuzichev, Kirill Fedorov, Roman Antonovsky and Maria Volkonskaya, as well as Alexandra Jost, Georgy Shevkunov and the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives were included on the sanctions list.
Under Regulation No. 1362 blocking sanctions were imposed on 15 individuals and one legal entity. Those who have been sanctioned include Russian judges, prosecutors and staff of law enforcement agencies, the FSB and medical institutions. Sanctions were also imposed on NTK IPJSC, which, according to the EU’s statement of reasons, was involved in the development of a facial recognition system.
As a reminder, EU blocking sanctions have the following consequences:
- EU PersonsThe EU sanctions are binding: within the EU territory; on EU nationals regardless of their location; on EU-registered legal entities and their branches and representative offices; on any persons within the EU territory, regardless of their nationality; and on board any aircraft or vessel under the jurisdiction of an EU member state (jointly — “EU Persons”) are required to block (freeze) funds and economic resources owned, held or controlled by sanctioned persons; and
- are prohibited from directly or indirectly making funds and economic resources available to or for the benefit of sanctioned persons.
Expansion of the UK sanctions list
On 16 June 2026, the UK announced sanctions against 11 individuals, 32 legal entities and 27 ships linked to Russia’s military and industrial complex, the supply of dual-use goods and the financial, energy and transport sectors.In particular, blocking sanctions were imposed on:
- Russian and foreign suppliers of dual-use goods, entities and individuals operating in Russia’s defence sector, including Scientific and Production Enterprise Spetsenergomekhanika LLC, Rushol JSC, Technoparitet LLC, Shenzhen Huaxin Antenna Technology Co Ltd, ComNav Technology Ltd, and a number of companies from Turkey and Thailand;
- eight entities supporting the Russian financial sector and its links to global markets, including Wildberries Bank LLC, Commercial Bank Vyatich JSC, Evrofinance Mosnarbank JSCB, Yandex Bank JSC, Joint Development Bank, Pilot Finance LTD, A71 LLC, and A7 Agent LLC;
- 27 ships involved in transporting Russian liquefied natural gas and Russian oil to third countries; and
- four legal entities involved in supporting the Russian energy sector, including Balance Insurance JSC, IC Rosgosstrakh PJSC, Kord-Bunker LLC and Dilmas LLC.
As a reminder, UK blocking sanctions impose the following obligations on UK PersonsAny individuals within the UK, regardless of nationality; UK citizens, regardless of where they are located; UK-registered legal entities and their branches; and any persons on board any aircraft or vessel under the jurisdiction of the UK (jointly — “UK Persons”). UK sanctions restrictions targeting Russia apply to British Overseas Territories (excluding Bermuda and Gibraltar).:
- to freeze (block) the assets of sanctioned persons: cash, securities, immovable and movable property, etc.; and
- to refrain from making funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to sanctioned persons or for their benefit (in the absence of prior authorisation in the form of a licence).
