EU unveils 16th sanctions package targeting Russia's shadow fleet
Ambassadors of EU member states gave the green light on Wednesday morning to the 16th package of EU sanctions on Russia. It will encompass additional sectors of the Russian economy, as well as the so-called shadow fleet that transports oil from Russia. Poland played a significant role in adopting the sanctions.
The agreement was reached unanimously, after the Polish presidency in the EU presented a compromise proposal. Poland wanted the sanctions to be adopted before the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which falls on 24 February.
According to information provided by diplomatic sources, the new sanctions include cutting off a dozen more Russian banks from the SWIFT system, placing restrictions on over 70 ships that belong to the so-called shadow fleet, and suspending licences for several Russian media outlets to operate in EU territory.
Further individuals have also been added to the sanctions blacklist, which will result in a ban on entry to the EU, and their assets within the Community will be frozen.
The sanctions also target further sectors of the Russian economy, including aluminium exports. The package also bans the export of certain chemicals to Russia.
Wednesday's decision also includes further sanctions on Belarus to prevent the country from assisting Russia in circumventing Western restrictions.
In December of last year, EU member states adopted the 15th package of sanctions aimed at Russia and its allies for the war against Ukraine. The sanctions list included 84 individuals and entities involved in helping the Kremlin. For the first time, full-blown sanctions were imposed on companies from China.
The sanctions package, approved in Brussels by the foreign ministers of EU countries, imposed restrictions on 84 entities and individuals involved in supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, in Russian hybrid attacks on the territory of the European Union, and in circumventing sanctions, including through the use of the shadow fleet, which are tankers secretly transporting Russian oil.
