EU Council approves 13th package of sanctions against Russia. What does it include?
On February 23, the Council of the European Union adopted the thirteenth package of sanctions against Russia, according to a statement on the EU Council website.
Restrictive measures are imposed against another 106 individuals and 88 legal entities responsible for actions that threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.
The new sanctions primarily affect the military and defense sectors of the Russian Federation and people associated with them, including those involved in the supply of weapons from North Korea to Russia, as well as members of the judiciary and local politicians responsible for the illegal abduction of Ukrainian children.
The sanctions list includes 27 companies that support the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. They are subject to stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technologies that can contribute to the technological improvement of the Russian defense and security sector.
Some of these entities are located in third countries (China, India, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Turkey) and have been involved in circumventing trade restrictions, while others are Russian organizations that develop, manufacture and supply electronic components for the Russian military-industrial complex.
The sanctioned persons will have their assets frozen in the EU, and European citizens and companies will be prohibited from providing them with funds. Individuals will also be banned from entering or transiting the EU.
In addition, the EU has expanded the list of prohibited goods that can contribute to the technological improvement of the Russian military-industrial complex: components for the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles have been added to the list. The bloc also slapped additional restrictions on the export of electrical transformers.