The European Union, after hectic last-minute haggling, has approved a tenth package of Russia sanctions on the anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the Swedish EU presidency said late on Friday (February 24).
“Together, the EU member states have imposed the most forceful and far-reaching sanctions ever to help Ukraine win the war,” the presidency announced on Twitter. “The EU stands united with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We will keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
Swedish EU presidency
The new sanctions of the European Union against Russia cover exports in the amount of EUR 11.4 billion and include restrictions on sensitive double-purpose technologies and advanced technologies that contribute to improving the military potential and technological improvement of Russia.
Restrictions fall into additional electronic components used in Russian weapons systems (drones, missiles, helicopters, and other vehicles), as well as prohibitions on specific rare land elements and thermal imagers for military purposes.
In addition, 96 organizations related to the Russian military-industrial complex have been added to the sanction list, bringing the total number of military end users included in the list up to 506.
For the first time, seven Iranian organizations that use EU components are included, and military drones for civilian infrastructure in Ukraine are included in Russia.
Additional export prohibitions are also imposed on goods that can be easily redirected for use, in particular to support Russian military action.
Among them are heavy trucks that are not yet banned (and spare parts), electric generators, binoculars, radars, and compasses; structures for tower-type buildings, forklifts; electronics, machines, pumps, metal processing equipment; and goods used in the aviation industry (turbojet engines).
Today’s package of measures prohibits the import of bitumen and related materials such as asphalt, synthetic rubber, and carbon.
Three Russian banks were added to the list of entities that are subject to the freezing of assets and the banning of the provision of funds and economic resources.
The new package of sanctions also envisages a ban on Russian citizens being part of the governing bodies of companies with critical infrastructure in EU Member States.
Also, Russian citizens and legal entities are forbidden to book capacity for storage of gas in the EU (except LNG)
In today’s package, the Russian Central Bank has to report on its assets in a new way. This is especially important when thinking about the possibility of using Russian state assets to pay for fixing up Ukraine after Russia loses.
In addition, aviation operators will have to report irregular flights to their national competent authorities, which will then inform other EU member states.
The EU Council also initiated the process of suspending speech licenses for two other media: RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic.
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