17th package of EU sanctions: EU reaction to Russian invasion of Ukraine (regularly updated)

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February and March 2014 and the subsequent annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation (Russia) on 16 March 2014, declared illegal also by the UN General Assembly (UNGA/11493, 27 March 2014), the EU has adopted, under articles 29 of the TEU and 215 of the TFEU, a series of restrictive measures against persons and entities for their role in actions threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine[1].

Following Russia’s recognition of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics’ independence on 21 February 2022 and its further invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the EU adopted a first package of sanctions.

In view of the gravity of the situation, and in response to Russia’s continued military aggression against Ukraine, the EU has adopted a series of new restrictive measures.

More than three years after Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine, on May 20, 2025, the EU adopted its 17^th package of sanctions against Russia.

The following are among the main measures implemented to crack down on Russia’s shadow fleet, thus cutting Russian energy imports and fighting against sanctions circumvention, and to restrict Russia’s access to battlefield technologies:

17^th package of sanctions

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/931 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP, and Council Regulation (EU) 2025/932 of 20 May 2025 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine:[2]

• Addition of 31 new entities to the list, set out in Annex IV to Decision 2014/512/CFSP, of those directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex on which tighter export restrictions regarding dual-use goods and technology, as well as goods and technology which might contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence and security sector, including:
  • 13 companies established in third countries (6 Turkey, 3 Vietnam, 2 UAE, 1 Serbia and 1 Uzbekistan) involved in the circumvention of export restrictions, notably on unmanned aerial vehicles or computer numerical control machine tools.
• Addition of 189 vessels to the list, set out in Annex XVI to Decision 2014/512/CFSP, of those subject to a port access ban and ban on provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport (bringing the total of Putin’s shadow fleet to 342 vessels).
• Expanded list of advanced technology itemsthat may contribute to Russia’s military and technological enhancement or to the development of its defence and security sector (Annex VII to Regulation 833/2014), including:
  • Chemical precursors to energetic materials (such as sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, aluminium powder, magnesium powder and boron powder, being used, directly or indirectly, as propellants for Russian missiles);
  • spare parts and components of high-precision Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools (e.g., ball screws and encoders).
• Extension of the exemption from the oil price cap, allowing for the transport, by vessel, of crude oil originating in the Sakhalin-2 Project in Russia to Japan, based on energy security concerns. The extension is granted for one year until 28 June 2026.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/963 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 and Council Regulation (EU) 2025/964 of 20 May 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2024/2642; and Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/966 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/965 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities:[3]

• Prohibition on transactions related to tangible assets linked to Russia’s destabilising activities, including vessels, aircraft, real estate, and physical elements of digital and communication networks, as listed in Annex II to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643.
• Prohibition on transactions of credit institutions, financial institutions and entities providing crypto-assets services that directly or indirectly facilitate activities by, or otherwise benefit, persons, entities or bodies engaged in Russia’s destabilising activities.
• Suspension of the EU broadcasting licences of Russian media outlets under the permanent control of the Russian leadership, and the prohibition on broadcasting their content, listed in Annex IV to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643.
• Addition of 21 persons and 6 entities to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies, set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2024/2642, responsible for, implementing, supporting, or benefitting from Russia’s hybrid threats.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/936 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP, and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/933 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine:[4]

• Addition of 17 persons and 58 entities to the list of persons/entities subject to restrictive measures (asset freezes and prohibition to make economic resources available, as well as travel bans for individuals) set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 269/2014.
  • The new listings, mostly affecting Russian military and defence sectors, make use of the two additional listing criteria adopted under the 16^th package of sanctions and applying to:[5]
    • Persons, entities or bodies owning, controlling, managing or operating vessels that transport crude oil or petroleum products, originating in Russia or exported from Russia, while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices (e.g., operating with inadequate or inexistent insurance) or that otherwise provide material, technical or financial support to the operations of such vessels (Putin’s shadow fleet).
    • Persons, entities or bodies forming part of, supporting, materially or financially, or benefitting from Russia’s military and industrial complex.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/957 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/1484, and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/958 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia:[6]

• On May 27, 2024, Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 established a new framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia,  and listed 1 entity (the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation) and 19 natural persons under the new regime (judges, prosecutors and members of the judiciary). This new sanctions regime introduces trade restrictions on exporting equipment, which might be used for internal repression, as well as on equipment, technology or software intended primarily for use in information security and the monitoring or interception of telecommunication.
  • On May 20, 2025, 28 individuals have been added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2024/1485.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/960 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544, and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/959 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1542 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons:[7]

• Following the OPCW reports, based on two Technical Assistance Visits, on 18 November 2024 and 14 February 2025, confirming the presence of the riot control agent CS and related compounds in the samples collected—pointing to a pattern of riot control use as a method of warfare on the front-lines in Ukraine, which is prohibited under Article I, paragraph 5, of the Chemical Weapons Convention:
  • 3 entities have been added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures (travel restrictions, freezing of funds and economic resources) set out in the Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1542.

---

[1] Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, OJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 16–21; and Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, OJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 6–15;

Council Decision 2014/512/CFSP of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine OJ L229, 31.7.2014, p. 13–17; and Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, OJ L 229, 31.7.2014, p. 1–11.

[2] Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/931 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, OJ L, 2025/931, 20.5.2025; and

Council Regulation (EU) 2025/932 of 20 May 2025 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, OJ L, 2025/932, 20.5.2025.

[3] Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/963 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities, OJ L, 2025/963, 20.5.2025;

Council Regulation (EU) 2025/964 of 20 May 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilizing activities, OJ L, 2025/964, 20.5.2025;

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/966 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities, OJ L, 2025/966, 20.5.2025; and

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/965 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities, OJ L, 2025/965, 20.5.2025.

[4] Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/936 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, OJ L, 2025/936, 20.5.2025 ; and

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/933 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, OJ L, 2025/933, 20.5.2025.

[5] Article 1 of Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/388 of 24 February 2025 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP.

[6] Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/957 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/1484 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia, OJ L, 2025/957, 20.5.2025 ; and

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/958 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia, OJ L, 2025/958, 20.5.2025.

[7] Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/960 of 20 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, OJ L, 2025/960, 20.5.2025 ; and

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/959 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1542 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, OJ L, 2025/959, 20.5.2025.