Package of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

This timeline gives an overview of the EU restrictive measures imposed on Russia since 2014.

For more accurate and latest information about restrictive measures against Russia, please check this website: Timeline - EU restrictive measures against Russia over Ukraine - Consilium (europa.eu )

Latest information from the Dutch government on sanction packages against Russia: Rijksoverheid

Timeline 2023

23 June - Eleventh package of sanctions in response to Russia´s invasion of Ukraine

The Council adopted new restrictive measures against Russia. The agreed package includes amongst others, measures to:

• strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with third countries to impede sanctions´ circumvention
• prohibit the transit of goods and technology via Russia
• tighten export restrictions

13 April - Wagner Group and RIA FAN added to the EU's sanctions list

The Council decided to add the Wagner Group and RIA FAN to the list of those subject to EU restrictive measures for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

• The Wagner Group - is a Russia-based unincorporated private military entity established in 2014, which is led by Dimitriy Utkin and financed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin
• RIA FAN - is part of the Patriot Media Group, a Russian media organisation whose Board of Trustees is headed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin

Altogether, EU restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to a total of 1 473 individuals and 207 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them.

13 March - EU renews individual sanctions over Russia´s military aggression against Ukraine

The Council decided to prolong the restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for another six months, until 15 September 2023.

The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed individuals and entities. Sanctions will continue to apply to 1 473 individuals and 205 entities.

25 February - Tenth package of sanctions in response to Russia´s invasion of Ukraine

The Council adopted new restrictive measures against Russia. The agreed package includes bans on:

• exports of critical technology and industrial goods
• imports of asphalt and synthetic rubber
• provision of gas storage capacity to Russians
• transit through Russia of EU exported dual use goods and technology

The EU has also:

• suspended the broadcasting licenses of RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic
• restricted the possibility for Russian nationals to hold any position in the governing bodies of EU critical infrastructures and entities
• introduced new reporting obligations to ensure the effectiveness of the asset freeze prohibitions
• imposed additional sanctions against 87 individuals and 34 entities, including key decision makers, military leaders, military commanders of the Wagner group and drone manufacturers

20 February - EU prolongs restrictions on business with non-government controlled areas of Ukraine

The Council decided to prolong by one year, until 24 February 2024, the restrictive measures in response to the illegal recognition, occupation or annexation by the Russian Federation of certain non-government controlled areas of Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The restrictive measures include:

• import ban on goods from the territory
• export ban on certain goods and technologies
• ban on certain advisory and consultancy services

4 February - EU agrees on level of price cap for Russian petroleum products

The Council decided to set two price caps for petroleum products falling under CN code 2710 which originate in or are exported from Russia. These are the price per barrel at or below which petroleum products from Russia are exempt from the prohibition to provide:

• maritime transport of petroleum products to third countries and
• technical assistance, brokering services or financing or financial assistance, related to the maritime transport of petroleum products to third countries

The price cap for petroleum products:

• traded at a discount to crude oil is set at USD 45 per barrel
• traded at a premium to crude is set at USD 100 per barrel

The level of the cap was established in close cooperation with the Price Cap Coalition and will become applicable as of 5 February 2023.

The Council will revert to review the price cap mechanism for crude oil as of mid-March and the review will occur regularly every two months.

27 January - EU prolongs economic sanctions over Russia´s military aggression against Ukraine

The Council decided to prolong by six months, until 31 July 2023, the restrictive measures targeting specific sectors of the economy of the Russian Federation.

These sanctions, first introduced in 2014 in response to Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, were significantly expanded since February 2022, in light of Russia´s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine.

Timeline 2022


16 December - Ninth package of sanctions in response to Russia´s invasion of Ukraine

In response to Russia´s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine and the gravity of the current escalation against civilians and civilian infrastructure, the Council adopted a ninth package of sanctions. The new measures include bans on:>

• exports of drone engines
• exports of dual-use goods and technology
• investments in the mining sector
• transactions with the Russian Regional Development Bank
• the provision of advertising, market research and public opinion polling services

The EU has also suspended the broadcasting licenses of four additional Russian outlets and has sanctioned an additional 141 individuals and 49 entities.

3 December - Russian oil: EU agrees on price cap at $60 per barrel

The Council decided to set an oil price cap for crude oil and petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals which originate in or are exported from Russia, at $60 per barrel.

The level of the cap was established in close cooperation with the Price Cap Coalition and will become applicable as of 5 December 2022. The price cap on Russian oil will:

• limit price surges driven by extraordinary market conditions
• drastically reduce the revenues Russia has earned from oil after it unleashed its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine

28 November - EU adds violation of sanctions to list of EU crimes

The EU has adopted a number of restrictive measures in the context of Russia´s war of aggression against Ukraine and it is essential that these measures are fully implemented. Currently member states have different definitions of what constitutes a violation of restrictive measures and what penalties should be applied in the event of violation.

This is why, the Council unanimously adopted a decision to add violation of restrictive measures to the list of ‘EU crimes´ in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The decision will:

• ensure a similar degree of sanctions' enforcement throughout the EU
• deter attempts to circumvent or violate sanctions

Following this decision, the European Commission will present a proposal for a directive establishing minimum rules on the definition of and penalties for the crime of violating EU restrictive measures.

20 October - EU sanctions three individuals and one entity in relation to the use of Iranian drones in Russian aggression

The Council added three Iranian individuals and one Iranian entity to the list of those subject to restrictive measures for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. This is in view of their role in the development and delivery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.


6 October - EU adopts new sanctions in response to the annexation in Ukraine

In light of the escalating war and illegal annexation in Ukraine the Council has adopted new sanctions which include, amongst others:

   • a price cap related to the maritime transport of Russian oil for third countries
   • additions to the list of restricted items which may contribute to Russia's military and technological enhancement
   • additional restrictions on trade and services with Russia
   • an additional 30 individuals and 7 entities

14 September - EU prolongs individual sanctions for a further six months

The Council decided to prolong the duration of the restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for a further six months, until 15 March 2023.

The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed individuals and entities.

4 August - EU imposes restrictive measures on Viktor and Oleksandr Yanukovych

The Council decided to impose restrictive measures on two additional individuals in response to the ongoing unjustified and unprovoked Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

The Council added to the list of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures:

   • Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych - pro-Russian former President of Ukraine, for his role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and the state´s stability and security
   • Oleksandr Viktorovych Yanukovych (Viktor's son) - for also conducting transactions with the separatist groups in the Donbas region of Ukraine

The EU firmly stands with Ukraine and will continue to provide strong support for Ukraine´s overall economic, military, social and financial resilience, including humanitarian aid.

26 July - EU renews economic sanctions over Russia's aggression against Ukraine for further six months

The Council renewed the economic sanctions until 31 January 2023. These sanctions consist of restrictions on:

   • finance
   • energy
   • technology
   • dual-use goods
   • industry
   • transport
   • luxury goods

21 July - New package of measures in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The Council adopted new measures intended to tighten existing economic sanctions targeting Russia, perfect their implementation and strengthen their effectiveness.

The “maintenance and alignment” package:

   • introduces a new prohibition to purchase, import or transfer Russian-origin gold, including jewellery
   • reinforces export controls of dual use goods
   • extends the existing port access ban to locks
   • clarifies existing measures, for instance in the field of public procurement, aviation and justice
   • sanctions an additional 54 individuals and 10 entities, including the mayor of Moscow and Sberbank, a major financial institution

New measures, just like earlier sanctions, do not target Russia's exports of food, grain or fertilizers.

20 June - Crimea and Sevastopol: Council renews sanctions for a further year

The Council decided to renew sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation for a further year until 23 June 2023.

The restrictive measures currently in place include:

   • prohibitions targeting the imports of products originating from illegally annexed Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU
   • infrastructural or financial investments and tourism services from illegally annexed Crimea or Sevastopol
   • the exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in illegally annexed Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors
   • the prospection for and exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources

3 June - Sixth package of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The Council adopted a sixth package of sanctions, in light of Russia´s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine, Belarus' support for it, and the reported atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces.

The package includes:

•    a ban on imports from Russia of crude oil and refined petroleum products, with limited exceptions
•    a SWIFT ban for an additional three Russian bank and one Belarusian bank
•    suspension of broadcasting in the EU for three more Russian state-owned outlets

The EU also adopted sanctions against an additional 65 individuals and 18 entities. These include individuals responsible for the atrocities committed in Bucha and Mariupol.

30-31 May - European Council agrees on sixth sanctions package

EU leaders resolutely condemned Russia´s war of aggression against Ukraine and agreed on the sixth package of sanctions. The package will cover crude oil, as well as petroleum products, delivered from Russia to member states. A temporary exception for crude oil delivered by pipeline will be introduced.

Leaders urged the Council of the European Union to finalise and adopt the new sanctions without delay.

During the summit, the leaders also discussed safety of civilians, prosecution of war crimes, EU support to Ukraine - including humanitarian, financial, military and political support - and EU support to neighbouring countries. They also stressed the importance of resolutely implementing the Strategic Compass and increasing the EU´s security and defence capacity.

The European Council also addressed food security challenges resulting from the Russian war and called for speeding up work on the solidarity lanes to facilitate food exports from Ukraine.

Leaders reviewed progress on strengthening the EU´s energy independence and agreed on actions to further secure energy supply.

21 April - EU sanctions two additional businesspeople in relation to the illegal annexation of Crimea

The Council adopted sanctions against two additional Russian businesspeople in relation to the illegal annexation of Crimea: Serhiy Vitaliyovich Kurchenko and Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin.

Serhiy Vitaliyovich Kurchenko is a Ukrainian national and, among other things, took control of several large metalworking, chemical and energy plants in the separatist-held areas with support from pro-Russia separatists.

Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin is a prominent Russian businessman with close ties to President Putin and the Russian Ministry of Defence. He is the founder and unofficial head of the Wagner Group, a Russia-based unincorporated military entity, responsible for the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries in Ukraine.

13 April - EU introduces exceptions to restrictive measures to facilitate humanitarian activities

In view of the humanitarian crisis resulting from Russia´s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, the Council introduced humanitarian exceptions in two sanctions regimes concerning the situation in Ukraine: restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (“Ukraine territorial integrity regime”), and restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and the ordering of Russian armed forces into those areas (“Donetsk and Luhansk regime”).

8 April - Fifth package of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The Council adopted a fifth package of sanctions against Russia, in light of Russia´s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine and the reports of atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in a number of Ukrainian towns.

The package includes a ban on:

•    imports from Russia of coal and other solid fossil fuels
•    all Russian vessels from accessing EU ports
•    Russian and Belarusian road transport operators from entering the EU
•    imports of other goods such as wood, cement, seafood and liquor
•    exports to Russia of jet fuel and other goods
•    deposits to crypto-wallets

15 March - Fourth package of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The EU imposed a fourth package of economic and individual sanctions in response to Russia´s military aggression against Ukraine. The new measures include a ban on:

•    all transactions with certain state-owned enterprises
•    the provision of credit rating services to any Russian person or entity
•    new investments in the Russian energy sector

The Council expanded the list of persons connected to Russia´s defence and industrial base, on whom tighter export restrictions were imposed regarding dual-use goods, and goods and technology which might contribute to Russia´s technological enhancement of its defence and security sector. The EU also introduced:

•    trade restrictions for iron, steel and luxury goods
•    sanctions on an additional 15 individuals and 9 entities

10 March - EU extends sanctions over territorial integrity for a further six months

The Council decided to extend the sanctions targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for a further six months until 15 September 2022.

The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed persons and entities. Sanctions will continue to apply to 862 individuals and 53 entities.

9 March - EU imposes restrictive measures on an additional 160 individuals

The Council decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 160 individuals in respect of the ongoing unjustified and unprovoked Russian military aggression against Ukraine and of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

The listed individuals include:

•    14 oligarchs and prominent businesspeople involved in key economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Russian Federation 
•    146 members of the Russian Federation Council

Altogether, EU restrictive measures now apply to a total of 862 individuals and 53 entities.

9 March - EU agrees new measures targeting Belarus and Russia

In response to the involvement of Belarus in the unjustified and unprovoked Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the Council has adopted additional measures targeting the Belarusian financial sector.

The agreed measures will:

•    restrict the provision of specialised financial messaging services (SWIFT) to three Belarusian banks
•    prohibit transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus 
•    prohibit the listing and provision of services in relation to shares of Belarusian state-owned entities on EU trading venues
•    significantly limit the financial inflows from Belarus to the EU
•    prohibit the provision of euro-denominated banknotes to Belarus

Furthermore, the Council has introduced further restrictive measures with regard to the export of maritime navigation goods and radio communication technology to Russia.