EU adopts 21st Russia sanctions package

24 July 2026

The EU has adopted its 21^st Russia sanctions package, which targets Russia’s energy industry, military-industrial, trade sector, and financial services sectors – press release. The sanctions package includes 218 additional listings, and was implemented through the following acts:

• Regulation (EU) 2026/1844 which amends Regulation (EU) 269/2014, the EU’s asset freeze regulation under the Ukraine territorial integrity regime,

• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1843 which adds new listings to Regulation (EU) 269/2014, the EU’s asset freeze regulation under the Ukraine territorial integrity regime,

• Regulation (EU) 2026/1848 which amends Regulation (EU) 833/2014, the EU’s Russia sectoral sanctions regime regulation,

• Regulation (EU) 2026/1846 which amends Regulation (EC) 765/2006, the EU’s Belarus sanctions regime,

• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1817 which adds new listings to the EU’s Belarus sanctions regime,

• Decision (CFSP) 2026/1845 which amends Decision (CFSP) 2014/145, the EU’s Russia targeted financial sanctions regime decision,

• Decision (CFSP) 2026/1847 which amends Decision (CFSP) 2012/642, the EU’s Belarus sanctions regime decision,

• Decision (CFSP) 2026/1816 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2012/642, the EU’s Belarus sanctions regime decision,

• Decision (CFSP) 2026/1849 amending Decision (CFSP) 2014/512, the EU’s Russia sectoral sanctions regime decision.

Measures targeting Russian financial services and crypto include:

• Introducing a third-country ban for crypto-asset services (Annex LVII to Reg 833/2014),

• Freezing assets belonging to 94 banks and major financial institutions (Annex I to Regulation 269/2014),

• Banning transactions with 33 new Russian credit and financial institutions and 11 crypto-related service platforms (Annex XIV and Annex XLV Part A to Regulation 833/2014),

• Listing 2 people and 2 entities related to the A7 cross-border payments network (Annex to Decision 2026/1845).

Measures targeting the Russian energy industry include:  

• Pausing the automatic adjustment of the oil price cap mechanism until 15 July 2027 (Regulation 2026/1848),

• Listing 41 vessels (including non-EU vessels) that provide support and bunkering and other services to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ (Annex VI – Annex XLII Regulation 2026/1848),

• Listing 8 entities and 1 person active in the shadow fleet system, including companies operating on behalf of Russia’s oil majors and a crewing agency (Annex to Decision 2026/1845),

• Listing 18 entities and 1 person in the oil sector (Annex to Decision 2026/1845),

• Introducing a notification obligation for the sales of LNG tankers and the possibility for new restrictions on the sale of LNG tankers to Russian citizens and companies (Regulation 2026/1848),

• Listing 7 entities in the gold sector, and one in the diamond sector (Annex to Decision 2026/1845).

Measures targeting Russia’s military-industrial sector include:

• Listing 56 people and companies involved in the Russian Military Industrial complex (Annex to Decision 2026/1845),

• Adding 51 entities to the list of those subject to tighter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technologies (Annex I/Annex IV to Regulation 833/2014).

Measures introducing travel bans include:

• Introducing the basis for an EU visa ban for combatants and ex-combatants of the Russian armed forces and proxy groups involved in the war in Ukraine. The Council will decide when the ban will enter into force (Decision 2026/1849).

Measures targeting the Russian trade sector include:  

• Expanding export restrictions to include items and technologies used by Russia’s military industry including metals and alloys, beryllium powders, and self-adhesive films (Annex II – Annex VII to Regulation 2026/1848),

• Expanding import restrictions on goods that generate revenues of over €60 million for Russia (Annex IV/Annex XXI to Regulation 2026/1848),

• Introducing trade measures on Belarus to mirror those imposed on Russia (Annex Va Annex XXVII to Regulation 2026/1846).

Other measures include:

• Listing 8 people for spreading Russia’s war propaganda (Annex to Decision 2026/1845),

• Designating a Major General for torturing and executing Ukrainian military (Annex to Decision 2026/1845).