The Council of the European Union has formally disclosed the details of new restrictive measures imposed on Russian individuals and entities in response to what it describes as hybrid destabilisation activities targeting EU Member States and partner countries.
According to a press statement released on Tuesday, the latest package includes sanctions against 21 individuals and six entities deemed to be connected to efforts by the Russian Federation to undermine democratic processes and disseminate disinformation abroad.
In addition to the updated sanctions list, the Council has authorised the imposition of targeted restrictions on assets and infrastructure linked to such destabilising actions. These include ships, aircraft, real estate, communications equipment, financial transactions, and cryptocurrency operations, where these are found to be directly or indirectly involved in activities supporting Russian interference.
In a significant policy development, the Council also announced that broadcasting licences for Russian media outlets operating under the control of the Kremlin may be suspended, and such channels may be prohibited from airing content within the EU. This move, described as a response to “a systematic international campaign of manipulation and factual distortion,” does not, however, extend to other forms of journalistic activity such as conducting interviews within EU territory.
Among the individuals named in the updated sanctions list are Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian Ukrainian political figure; Artem Marchevskyi; and Oleg Voloshyn, all of whom are accused of promoting pro-Kremlin propaganda targeting both Ukraine and the EU. Medvedchuk and Marchevskyi, along with the media outlet Voice of Europe, have been subject to existing EU sanctions since May 2024. The precise nature of the newly imposed measures against them has not been detailed.
The list further includes persons alleged to have been involved in attempts to subvert political systems in Germany and Estonia. Notably, Alik Khuchbarov and Ilya Bocharov, identified as operatives of Russian military intelligence (GRU), have been sanctioned. German blogger Thomas Röper and Russian blogger Alina Lipp are also named for disseminating Russian state-aligned narratives. Turkish media group AFA Medya and its founder Huseyin Dogru have been targeted as well.
Several other individuals are included in the sanctions for spreading Russian disinformation in Europe and Africa. These include Elena Kolbasnikova, Yuliia Prokhorova, Rostyslav Tesliuk, and Andrey Kharkovsky—some of whom have been subjects of past investigative reporting. Additional sanctioned figures include Viktor Lugovenko and the media outlet African Initiative, accused of promoting pro-Kremlin content to African audiences; Justin Blaise Tagou, head of International Africa Media; and Mikhail Prudnikov. Sylvain Afua, founder of the now-defunct Black African Defence League, banned in France in 2021 for inciting hatred and violence, is also on the list.
Among the sanctioned legal entities are the hosting provider Stark Industries, along with its director Yurii Nekuliti and owner Ivan Nekuliti. The firm is alleged to have provided operational support to Russian-backed actors conducting activities ranging from cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns across the EU and beyond.
Two Russian fishing companies—Norebo JSC and Murman Sea Food—have also been sanctioned for suspected involvement in espionage and sabotage, particularly activities targeting subsea infrastructure such as undersea cables.
The list includes Russia’s Main Radio Frequency Centre and its director Ruslan Nesterenko. The organisation is accused of jamming GPS signals across the Baltic States, an action considered by EU officials to pose a significant threat to civil aviation safety.
The sanctions package entails asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on the provision of funds or economic resources by EU individuals or entities. The measures, which form part of a broader set of proposals prepared for formal adoption on 20 May, mark a continuation of the EU’s strategy to respond to Russia’s hybrid threats using legal and economic tools.
The Council emphasised that these steps are taken in coordination with EU partners and are intended to protect democratic institutions, media integrity, and civil aviation safety from foreign interference.
This is the latest in a series of coordinated actions aimed at disrupting Russia’s international influence operations, which have included both overt and covert activities ranging from disinformation and propaganda to cyber sabotage and attempted electoral interference. Further measures are reportedly under discussion.
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