EU Expands Sanctions Regime Against Russia, Blacklists Over 1,600 Individuals and Entities

The European Union has agreed to blacklist more than 1,600 people and entities in the single largest expansion of its sanctions regime against Russia since the beginning of the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, diplomats said Wednesday. The new listings target 743 individuals and 826 entities primarily linked to Russia’s defense industry, according to Euronews. More than half are concentrated on missile production, Reuters reported Tuesday. The 22nd package also targets 77 political figures and election officials in connection with last month’s parliamentary elections held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. Several other Russia-related listings were approved under the EU’s separate North Korea sanctions framework. The sanctions entail travel bans, asset freezes and prohibitions on receiving EU funding. EU foreign ministers will formally approve the expanded sanctions list in Luxembourg on Monday, per Reuters, AFP and Euronews. The bloc last approved its 21st sanctions package in July. The agreement will bring the total number of people and entities under EU sanctions over the war to nearly 4,650. The agreement follows backlash over the recent removal of oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list, concessions made to prevent all other EU listings from lapsing. Usmanov’s removal was linked to the release of a French prisoner in Azerbaijan. EU officials are reportedly also considering moving toward qualified majority voting for future sanctions to prevent vetoes by single members. AFP and Reuters contributed reporting.