The European Union has unveiled the tenth package of sanctions aimed at Russia, a year into Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. The new measures expand the bloc’s restrictive toolkit and tighten pressure on Moscow across financial, economic, and political channels.
Among the key actions, several Russian banks—Alfa-Bank, Rosbank, and Tinkoff—have been placed under enhanced restrictions. These institutions are slated for immediate disconnection from the SWIFT global payments system, and all transactions with them will be blocked. The EU will also freeze any assets these banks hold within member countries. Officials explained that the three banks were chosen because they are systemic players in Russia’s financial landscape and are deeply involved in sectors that provide substantial revenue to the state. They also noted that Tinkoff has previously implemented programs promoting entrepreneurship in collaboration with the Russian authorities.
The blacklist extends beyond banks to include the National Welfare Fund, the Russian National Reinsurance Company, and the All-Russian People’s Front movement, expanding the scope of targeted economic entities.
Personal sanctions
The package imposes restrictions on 87 individuals. Notable among them are Valery Fadeev, head of Russia’s Human Rights Council; Leonid Roshal, a renowned surgeon; Yevgeny Primakov, head of Rossotrudnichestvo; Vyacheslav Duhin, deputy head of the Moscow region government; Tatyana Moskalkova, the Russian human rights commissioner; Kirill Vyshinsky, managing director of the Rossiya Segodnya media group; and several other figures connected to state institutions. In addition, the measure targets four vice-presidents of Roskomnadzor, as well as individuals including Milos Wagner, Vladimir Logunov, Vadim Subbotin, and Oleg Terlyakov.
Another block targets 11 individuals and 7 organizations associated with the Wagner private military company. Among them are Maxim Shugalei, who leads the National Values Defense Fund, and Ivan Maslov, who heads the Wagner group’s operations in Mali. The EU stated that Wagner Group activities pose a direct threat to people in the regions where it operates and to the broader European Union, adding that lack of legal accountability by these actors undermines international peace and security. Concrete steps are being sustained to counter violations of international law, officials stressed.
Russian departments
The restrictive list also names several Russian government departments, including the Ministry of Defense and the Foreign Intelligence Service. Additional listings cover commanders, troop categories, and senior officials within the Defense Ministry, the Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research, and the Defense Ministry’s Communications Center, along with related entities. The package further encompasses a number of prominent enterprises within Russia’s Rosatom nuclear sector, signaling targeted impact on strategic industries.
Export ban
The tenth package tightens the export controls as well, marking a ban on certain Russian propaganda media, namely RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic. It broadens prohibitions on the export of critical technologies and industrial goods such as electronics, vehicles, and machine parts. Goods intended for the construction sector that could be repurposed for military use are also restricted, and the transit of dual-use goods and technologies through Russia is barred. These measures aim to limit the supply chains and technological capabilities available to the Russian armed forces.
Since Russia’s military actions in Ukraine began, the European Union has maintained a series of restrictive measures. The tenth package represents the culmination of the current phase of policy, with official confirmation of its adoption announced on the date of approval by EU foreign ministers and officials. The package underscores the EU’s commitment to a coordinated and persistent approach to sanctions, designed to isolate specific economic actors and influential individuals while protecting broader international stability and rule of law.