Author - Darkhan Abildinov, Sanctions Compliance Officer, Freedom Kazakhstan; Member of the Sanctions Committee, Compliance and Business Ethics Association
On the third anniversary of the military operation in Ukraine, the EU has approved the 16th package of sanctions against Russia:
📌 The restrictive measures include 48 people and 35 entities. Additionally, 74 vessels from third countries were targeted, bringing the total number of designated vessels to 153.
📌 For the first time, a ban on financial transactions was imposed on banks from third countries using Russia's SPFS system, an analogue of SWIFT.
📌 Fifty-three companies, including entities from China (including Hong Kong), India, Kazakhstan, Turkey, UAE and Uzbekistan involved in sanctions circumvention and technology supply, were added to the list.
📌 Restrictions on aviation, construction services, and on intra-EU transport services for companies with Russian participation (25% or more) have been extended.
📌 The EU has suspended the EU broadcast licences of eight Russian media outlets under the permanent control of the Russian leadership and banned them from broadcasting their content. These include: EADaily / Eurasia Daily, Fondsk, Lenta, NewsFront, RuBaltic, SouthFront, Strategic Culture Foundation and Krasnaya Zvezda / Tvzvezda. However, these restrictions do not apply in terms of carrying out other activities in the EU, such as conducting research and interviews.
📌 Controls on re-exports of sensitive goods to third countries have been introduced to prevent them from reaching Russia.
📌 The Council also prohibits the provision of temporary storage facilities for Russian oil and oil products within the EU, regardless of the purchase price of the oil and the final destination of these products.
The EU also extended sanctions against Ukraine's uncontrolled territories until February 2026, strengthening bans on the provision of professional services and technology.
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