sanctions enforcement

The European Union has approved a new package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, marking the seventeenth round of restrictive measures since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The latest measures were formally announced on Tuesday, 20 May, by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, via her official account on social media platform X. The package targets close to 200 vessels identified as part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, a term used to describe tankers and cargo ships allegedly involved in circumventing international sanctions.

According to Kallas, the sanctions also extend to issues concerning hybrid threats and human rights violations. She stated that the package reflects the EU’s continuing commitment to confronting the Kremlin’s aggression through both economic and diplomatic means.

“The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response,” Kallas wrote, signalling that preparations are already underway for an eighteenth package of measures.

The 17th sanctions package was adopted as part of the EU’s coordinated strategy to restrict Russia’s financial and logistical capacity to continue its war effort. While the full text of the measures has yet to be published, the inclusion of the maritime sector—particularly the targeting of the “shadow fleet”—marks a notable development in the EU’s efforts to address sanctions evasion.

The “shadow fleet” refers to a growing number of oil and commodity tankers that operate under obscure ownership and registry arrangements. These vessels are often used to transport Russian crude oil and petroleum products outside the framework of the G7 price cap mechanism introduced in late 2022. EU officials have previously raised concerns over the role of third-party intermediaries, ship-to-ship transfers, and the use of flags of convenience, all of which have enabled Russia to maintain energy exports despite Western sanctions.

The EU’s move aligns with growing international scrutiny over how Moscow has adapted to restrictions by relying on opaque financial structures and alternative trading routes. Analysts have noted that the increased focus on maritime logistics, especially in the enforcement of oil price caps, is intended to undercut Russia’s war financing.

In addition to targeting maritime operations, the new sanctions package is reported to include measures addressing cyber operations, disinformation campaigns, and other forms of hybrid warfare associated with Russian state and non-state actors. EU institutions have repeatedly warned that the threat posed by Russian hybrid tactics extends beyond Ukraine, with member states reporting multiple incidents of cyberattacks and hostile information campaigns.

The sanctions also contain provisions responding to ongoing human rights abuses, although the specific nature of these measures has not yet been disclosed. Previous packages have included asset freezes and travel bans on individuals linked to the suppression of civil society and political dissent within Russia.

The EU’s eighteenth sanctions package is already in the early stages of discussion. Future measures may involve financial institutions based outside the EU that are suspected of supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex. This could mark a significant expansion of the EU’s secondary sanctions framework, potentially affecting banks in third countries found to be facilitating transactions linked to the Russian defence sector.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated last week that the upcoming sanctions package is intended to intensify pressure on the Russian leadership. In remarks made on 16 May, she confirmed that the Commission is reviewing additional restrictions on Russian financial institutions, in coordination with G7 partners.

Since the start of the invasion, the EU has adopted a series of far-reaching sanctions against Russia, covering sectors including energy, finance, defence, aviation, and technology. More than 2,000 individuals and entities are currently subject to restrictive measures, with efforts continuing to ensure consistent enforcement and limit circumvention.

The EU’s sanctions regime forms part of a broader Western strategy to isolate Russia economically and diplomatically while supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. With the conflict now in its fourth year, EU officials have reiterated that sanctions will remain in place for as long as necessary.

The next package is expected to be brought forward in the coming weeks, with discussions likely to focus on the effectiveness of existing measures and the potential risks associated with expanding the sanctions framework to non-EU actors.