Vladimir Putin is facing a fresh sanction nightmare as a new wave of economic measures hits Russia.
The EU’s Council – the bloc’s institution that defines its “general political direction and priorities” – announced yesterday that it had approved its fifteenth package of measures aimed at impeding Putin’s capability to wage war in Ukraine.
Officials say it is designed to address the avoidance of sanctions through targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” of ships and weaken the country’s military and industrial complex.
The sanctions also affects Chinese and North Korean “actors”.
Targeted, the EU says, are the military unit responsible for the striking of the Okhmadyt children hospital in Kyiv, senior managers in leading companies in the energy sector, individuals responsible for children deportation, propaganda and circumvention, as well the Minister of Defence and the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The council adds: “As to entities, the EU targeted primarily Russian defence companies and shipping companies responsible for the transportation of crude oil and oil products by the sea, providing important revenues to the Russian government.
“It also listed a chemical plant, a civil Russian airline which is an important provider of logistical support to the Russian military.
“For the first time, it imposes fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make economic resources available) on various Chinese actors supplying drone components and microelectronic components in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Officials are also adding more vessels to the list of those subject to a port access ban, and imposing a ban on provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport.
The council said: “This measure is intended to target non-EU tankers that are part of Putin’s shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism or support the energy sector of Russia, or vessels that are responsible for transporting military equipment for Russia or involved in the transport of stolen Ukrainian grain.
“52 vessels originating from third countries were targeted today on these grounds, bringing the total of designated vessels to 79.”
Officials added: “The Council also added 32 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine. They will be subject to tighter export restrictions concerning dual use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technology which might contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence and security sector.
“Some of these entities are located in third countries (China, India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates) and have been involved in the circumvention of trade restrictions or have engaged in the procurement of sensitive items used for Russian military operations, like UAVs and missiles.”
