Photo: EPA
The European Union plans to introduce one of its most extensive sanctions packages against Russia this autumn, with a focus on the country’s military-industrial sector.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said existing Western sanctions had already cost Russia’s war machine more than €1 trillion, and that Brussels intended to increase the pressure further.
“I propose the most far-reaching sanctions lists since the beginning of the war this autumn,” Kallas said. She added that the new measures would increase the number of sanctioned Russian entities by around one-third and that pressure should continue until Moscow ends the war.
According to European diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, the European External Action Service is preparing sanctions against around 1,600 Russian individuals and organizations, most of them linked to the defense industry.
New sanctions expected in October
The measures are expected to include travel bans, transaction restrictions and asset freezes. The EU’s current sanctions lists already contain nearly 3,000 individuals and companies.
The European External Action Service is expected to present the new names to EU member states in early September, with the aim of securing approval in October.
The proposal will reportedly focus on individual listings and avoid broader sectoral measures under the European Commission’s jurisdiction. This is intended to speed up the approval process, as EU sanctions require unanimous support from all member states.
The previous, 21st sanctions package faced lengthy negotiations, including objections from Greece over restrictions on the transshipment of Russian liquefied natural gas. The package was eventually approved in July.
More sanctions to follow
In September, the European External Action Service also plans to propose additional sanctions against individuals involved in the illegal transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children.
Later in the autumn, Brussels is expected to introduce further measures targeting people linked to Russian hybrid operations, including cyberattacks and large-scale disinformation campaigns.
The EU has also recently changed the way it extends economic sanctions against Russia. For the first time, the bloc extended sectoral restrictions for 12 months instead of the usual six-month period. The measures cover Russia’s financial, energy and defense sectors, as well as restrictions on dual-use goods, technology and luxury products.
