Sanctions against Russia
63 Commons Library Research Briefing, 22 March 2023
A ninth package of sanctions
On 7 December 2022, EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen,
announced proposals for a ninth package of EU sanctions against Russia.
Those measures were adopted by the Council of Ministers and approved by
the European Council (PDF) on 16 December 2022.
Among its measures were:
• The designation of almost 200 Russian individuals and entities linked to
Russia's campaign of deliberate missile strikes against civilians, the
kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia, the spreading of
disinformation and the theft of Ukrainian agricultural products. Listed
individuals include members of the Russian armed forces, members of
the State Duma and Federation Council, Russian ministers, regional
governors, family members of sanctioned individuals and several
popular public figures.
• The introduction of sanctions against three additional Russian banks,
including the Russian Regional Development Bank.
• The imposition of new export controls and restrictions on dual-use
goods, including key chemicals, nerve agents, night vision and radio
navigation equipment, electronics and IT components. To avoid the
circumvention of sanctions, some Russian-controlled entities in Crimea
and Sevastopol have also been designated.
• Expansion of the export ban on aviation and space industry related
goods and technology to include aircraft engines and their parts. This
will effectively prohibit the export of drone engines to Russia and any
third countries, such as Iran, that could supply drones to Russia.
• Suspension of the broadcasting licences of a further four Russian media
channels: NTV/NTV Mir, Rossiya 1, REN TV and Pervyi Kanal.
• Further economic measures against Russia's energy and mining sectors,
including a ban on new mining investment in Russia.
270
• A ban will be introduced on the provision to Russia of EU advertising,
market research and public opinion polling services, in addition to
product testing and technical inspection services.
271
Announcing this package of sanctions, EU Ministers reiterated that "none of
the measures adopted […] target in any way the trade in agricultural and
food products, including wheat and fertilisers, between third countries and
Russia". However, to combat food insecurity and avoid disruption in
payments for agricultural products, the EU announced a derogation allowing
for the unfreezing of assets, and to make funds and economic resources
available to, certain sanctioned individuals who held a significant role in the
international trade in food and agricultural products prior to their listing.
272
270
European Commission, Press statement, 7 December 2022
271
EU Council of Ministers, Press release, 16 December 2022
272
EU Council of Ministers, Press release, 16 December 2022
