What's in the EU's 19th package of Russia sanctions

BRUSSELS: The European Commission adopted its 19th package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The package includes a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, sanctions on Central Asian banks, Chinese refineries and Russia's shadow fleet network.

AI Brief

EU bans short-term LNG imports, targets Russia's shadow fleet, and lists Chinese refineries aiding Moscow.
Sanctions hit Russian and Central Asian banks, crypto firms, and Russia's payment systems.
EU tightens tech export bans, blocks investments in Russian zones, and sanctions individuals over war crimes.

Here are the details:

ENERGY MEASURES

Import ban on short-term LNG contracts within six months from package adoption and long-term by January 1, 2027

Lists 117 more vessels in Moscow's shadow fleet, bringing total to 557

Lists false flags registries on behalf of Aruba, Curacao and Sint-Maarten and Litasco Middle East DMCC

Ban on reinsuring listed vessels and reinsurance for used Russian aircraft

Tightens existing transaction ban on two major Russian state-owned oil producers: Rosneft and Gazpromneft

Lists two Chinese refineries and one trader: Liaoyang Petrochemical, Shandong Yulong Petrochemical and Chinaoil, the Hong Kong trading arm of PetroChina

FINANCIAL MEASURES

Transaction ban on five more Russian banks and five banks in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Transaction ban on the cryptocurrency A7A5 and two related Kyrgyz crypto firms Old Vector and Grinex

Restrictions on the Russian credit card system (MIR) and fast payments system (SBP)

EXPORT BANS

Tighter export restrictions with regard to dual-use goodson an additional 45 companies, of which 17 are in third countries - China, Thailand and India

Bans on chemicals, metal components, salts and ores useful to Russia's military

Access ban on high-tech EU services including geospatial information, AI and high-performance computing

OTHER MEASURES

Lists 11 new individuals for their role in the abduction, forced assimilation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, which brings the total to 102 people and entities

Russian diplomats will be obliged to inform in advance the relevant EU member state when travelling beyond their country of accreditation

Ban on new investments in certain Special Economic Zones in Russia relevant for the war effort. Ban will extend to existing contracts for Alabuga and Technopolis Moscow

Lists Ilya Sorokin, known as Dr. Evil, for allegedly torturing prisoners of war in a penal colony in Mordovia.