The 17th package of EU sanctions against Russia: a detailed overview
20 May 14:48
Today, the Council of the European Union approved the 17th package of economic and individual restrictive measures against Russia, aimed at restricting access to key military technologies and significantly reducing Russia’s energy revenues. The EU called this package the most ambitious since the beginning of the full-scale war, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The new package pays special attention to counteracting Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, their operators, and one of Russia’s largest oil producers.
“This round of sanctions against Russia is the most comprehensive since the beginning of the war, including new sanctions on hybrid actions, human rights violations and the use of chemical weapons. In this 17th package, we include Surgutneftegaz – Russia’s oil giant – as well as nearly 200 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet. While Putin feigns interest in peace, new sanctions are being prepared. The actions of Russia and those who help it will have serious consequences. The longer Russia continues its illegal and brutal war, the tougher our response will be.”
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Council
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Main components of the 17th sanctions package
Russia’s “shadow fleet”
The EU Council adopted today its largest package of measures targeting Putin’s “shadow fleet”, doubling the number of vessels subject to a ban on access to ports and a ban on the provision of a wide range of services. To date, 189 third-country vessels have been sanctioned, bringing the total number of designated vessels to 342. These vessels are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and are responsible for transporting Russian oil using irregular and high-risk shipping practices or supporting Russia’s energy sector.
Restrictive measures against the “shadow fleet” are aimed at dismantling its operational capabilities, which will reduce oil revenues that support the Russian military economy.
In addition, the EU is imposing individual sanctions (asset freezes and a ban on providing funds) against entities that ensure the functioning of the shadow fleet. These measures cover shipping companies responsible for the maritime transportation of crude oil and petroleum products that use unsafe practices in the transportation of Russian oil, including companies from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Hong Kong. The list also includes an important insurer of the Russian oil shipping industry.
Since the EU imposed oil price restrictions and sanctions against the “shadow fleet,” Russia’s revenues have decreased by 38 billion euros, according to the EU Council. Russia’s revenues in March 2025 were 13.7% lower than in March 2023 and 20.3% lower than in March 2022. For our part, we can state that during the third year of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the EU spent more money on Russian fossil fuels than on financial assistance to Ukraine.
Energy sector
In order to further limit Russia’s sources of revenue, the EU also imposed restrictive measures against Surgutneftegaz, a major Russian oil company that provides significant revenue to the Russian government and directly finances its military efforts. An important Russian oil transportation company was also added to the sanctions list.
Military-industrial sector
The EU imposes sanctions on more than 45 Russian companies and individuals that provide the Russian army with drones, weapons, ammunition, military equipment, critical components, and logistical support.
The EU is also expanding the targets to include industrial intermediaries, such as Russian and Chinese entities that supply machine tools to the Russian military and industrial sectors. The EU has added three Chinese entities, including state-owned, one Belarusian and one Israeli entity that supply critical components to the Russian military, including components for the production of drones.
The Council also added 31 entities to the list of those subject to stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technologies due to their support of the Russian military-industrial complex in the war against Ukraine. Some of these entities are located in third countries (Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan) and have been involved in circumventing export restrictions, including the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles or computer numerical control machines.
The EU has also imposed additional restrictions on the export of goods that contribute to Russia’s military and technological advancement, the development of its defense and security sector, and the development or production of its military systems, including chemical precursors for energy materials and machine tool spare parts.
Occupied territories
The current list of sanctions also addresses the theft of cultural heritage in Crimea and the illegal exploitation of Ukrainian agricultural production. The relevant legal acts will soon be published in the EU’s Official Journal.
With the addition of 75 new entries today (17 individuals and 58 legal entities), the EU’s restrictive measures against actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to more than 2,400 individuals and legal entities. The individuals on the list are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing funds to them. Individuals are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting the territories of EU member states.
The full list of sanctions included in the 17th package is available here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202500936.
EU sanctions against Russia
The European Union has already introduced 17 sanctions packages against Russia in response to its aggression against Ukraine. The sanctions cover a wide range of measures aimed at weakening the Russian economy and limiting Russia’s ability to wage war.
Key sanctions include freezing the assets of Russian officials, including President Putin, restricting Russia’s access to EU financial markets, a ban on imports of Russian energy (coal, oil), and restrictions on exports of dual-use technologies and goods that could contribute to Russia’s military capabilities.
The EU also imposed sanctions against Russian banks, excluding some of them from the SWIFT system, banned Russian ships and trucks from accessing EU ports and territory, and restricted the activities of Russian media in the Union. In addition, restrictions were imposed on investments in the Russian energy sector and a ban on the export of luxury goods to Russia.
The sanctions also target individuals and organizations involved in the aggression against Ukraine, including politicians, military, businessmen and propagandists. The EU regularly expands its sanctions lists by adding new names and tightening existing restrictions.
the 14th package of sanctions for the first time touched on Russian gas, but did not hit it.
Earlier this year, the EU extended two sanctions regimes against Russia for another six months.
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