BRUSSELS - European Union ambassadors agreed the largest expansion of the bloc’s Russia sanctions list since the start of the full-scale war, with 1,646 individuals and entities set to be added.
The ambassadors’ agreement does not put the restrictions into effect immediately. Final approval is expected Oct. 12 at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, after which the names of those targeted are due to be published.
The agreed package covers 743 individuals and 826 organizations that EU officials link to support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. A separate group of 77 lawmakers who took part in State Duma elections in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine is also slated for restrictions.
Russian defense industry is the main target
About 1,570 of the new listings are connected to Russia’s military-industrial complex, according to Reuters. More than half are linked to missile production. The remaining entries fall under other EU legal regimes, including sanctions related to North Korea.
Once formally adopted, those listed will face asset freezes, travel bans in the European Union and restrictions on receiving funds. The total number of names on the EU sanctions list is expected to approach 4,650.
In September, EU diplomats renewed existing sanctions listings for three years. The newly agreed designations would significantly broaden the group of people and companies targeted, particularly in the defense sector.
Source: Vesti Baku.