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Today, on 20 May, the Council of the European Union adopted the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. Targeted restrictive measures were imposed against further 17 persons and 58 entities responsible for actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

The 17th package also imposes additional sanctions on 189 vessels from third countries, which Russia uses as a shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil and gas and to finance aggression against Ukraine. Continuing its deceptive shipping practices, in complete disregard of international standards, the fleet poses a serious threat to shipping, the environment, and critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. In total, the EU has sanctioned 342 vessels.

The Council added 31 new entities directly related to Russia's military industry to the list of sanctioned entities. They will be subject to strict export restrictions related to dual-use goods and technology, as well as goods and technology that could be used to enhance Russia’s defence technologies. Some of these entities operate in third countries (Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan) and are involved in the attempts to circumvent of trade restrictions.

In addition, today the EU decided to introduce further restrictions on exports of goods intended for the development of Russian military systems, including chemical precursors explosives and spare parts for machinery.

Considering that Russia continues to conduct hybrid operations in European countries aimed at undermining, weakening, and fragmenting the unity of the EU member states and neighbouring countries, the Council today approved a new package of sanctions to complement the targeted sanctions framework to counter Russia's destabilising activities against the EU and its member states. The new sanctions package introduces restrictive measures in the form of bans on transactions involving tangible assets to support Russia’s destabilising activities. The list of such tangible assets includes ships, aircraft, real estate, seaports and airports, and physical elements of digital and communication networks.

 Also, in light of Russia’s continued systematic international media manipulation and disinformation campaign aimed at destabilising the EU and its member states, a ban on the broadcasting activities of the media outlets carrying out this campaign has been introduced. The hybrid sanctions list against Russia also includes an additional 21 individuals and 6 legal entities responsible for the continuous GPS disruptions in the airspace of the Baltic states.

In response to the continued, systematic repression and continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia, the Council of the EU today imposed additional restrictive measures against 28 individuals for gross human rights violations or abuses, the suppression of Russian civil society and democratic opposition, undermining of democracy and the rule of law.

Today, additional sanctions have also been imposed on three Russian entities involved in the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. These restrictions are established under the horizontal sanctions regime for chemical weapons.

For more information, please visit here: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/05/20/russia-s-war-of-aggression-against-ukraine-eu-agrees-17th-package-of-sanctions/