The Council of the European Union broadened the framework for sanctions against Russian business by enabling restrictive measures to target profitable sectors within the Russian economy. This expansion is codified in Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1089, issued on 5 June 2023, which amends Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive actions that undermine or threaten Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. By widening the scope, the EU can apply penalties beyond previously limited sectors, influencing a broader swath of Russia’s commercial landscape and strengthening leverage in response to ongoing destabilizing activities.
The amendment also opens the door to sanctions aimed at relatives of prominent Russian business figures. This change builds on the EU’s established approach since February 2022, which allowed the listing of entities and individuals deemed to be leading entrepreneurs, or structures closely connected to sectors that provide a substantial source of state revenue. The revised text extends this logic to include immediate familial links, expanding the net of accountability and signaling a tougher stance on governance and economic favor-trading that feeds the Kremlin’s financial backbone.
In the broader context, the move aligns with a continuing EU strategy to pressure Moscow through comprehensive, targeted measures designed to disrupt the economic operations that underpin geopolitical objectives. The discussion around the 11th package of sanctions, anticipated to be adopted around early June, reflects a pattern of iterative tightening and close coordination with international partners. Officials have indicated that the forthcoming package will reinforce transparency in eligibility criteria, broaden the list of sanctioned sectors, and tighten enforcement mechanisms to reduce evasion while preserving humanitarian exemptions where appropriate. This evolving framework underscores the EU’s commitment to maintaining a unified, rule-based response in the face of ongoing regional tensions and challenges to Ukraine’s sovereignty and stability.