The EU's 17th sanctions package against Russia

For more information about UK, EU and US sanctions on Russia, see our detailed blog which also includes our top tips for compliance.

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/933 amends Regulation (EU) No 269/2014:

• Asset freeze designations: 17 individuals and 58 entities have been added to the list of persons subject to asset freeze measures in Annex I. These persons are responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Council Regulation (EU) 2025/932 amends Regulation (EU) No 833/2014:

• Support for military and defence sector: 31 new entities (from Russia, Serbia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the UAE, and Türkiye) have been added to the list of persons who are subject to the article 2b prohibitions in relation to dual-use goods and technology. These persons are military end-users, form part of Russia’s military and industrial complex or which have commercial or other links with or which otherwise support Russia’s defence and security sector.
• Military and technology enhancement: The list of items which might contribute to Russia’s military and technological enhancement or to the development of its defence and security sector has been expanded to include chemical precursors to energetic materials and spare parts for machine tools. These items are subject to the restrictive measures at articles 2a(1) and 2b(1).
• Oil cap exemption extension: The duration of the exemption from the oil price cap which allows the transport, by vessel, of crude oil originating in the Sakhalin-2 Project in Russia to Japan has been extended to 28 June 2026.
• Designated vessels: 189 vessels have been added to Annex XVI. These vessels are banned from accessing Member States’ ports and locks, as well as from receiving a broad range of services related to maritime transport.

In addition to the instruments described above (which form the 17^th package), on 20 May 2025, the EU expanded the scope of its hybrid threats framework, made designations in relation to human rights violations in Russia, and made designations in relation to the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine:

Destabilising activities

• Council Regulation (EU) 2025/964 amends Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 by:
  • Prohibiting transactions with tangible assets supporting Russia-driven destabilising activities, such as vessels, aircraft, real estate, ports, airports, physical elements of digital and communication networks.
  • Prohibiting transactions of credit institutions, financial institutions and entities providing crypto-assets services that directly or indirectly facilitate activities by, or otherwise benefit, persons, entities or bodies engaged in Russia’s destabilising activities.
  • Suspending the broadcasting licences in the EU of specifically-designated media outlets and prohibiting the broadcasting of their content in the EU, or directed at the EU. 
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/965  amends Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 by designating an additional 21 individuals and six entities.

Human rights

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/958 amends Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 by designating an additional 28 individuals.

Proliferation and use of chemical weapons

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/959 amends Regulation (EU) 2018/1542 by designating an additional three entities.

Our team

Fieldfisher's experienced multi-disciplinary sanctions and export control team includes lawyers who have negotiated and drafted EU and UN sanctions regimes in Government and regularly provide sanctions advice to businesses operating around the world in a wide variety of sectors. We work closely with US partners to provide coordinated, comprehensive and practical advice to help business understand and manage the impact of sanctions. 

For more information please contact Andrew Hood (Partner, International Trade).
 
* The contents of this notice do not constitute legal advice and are provided for general information purposes only.