EU agrees on 17th package of Russia sanctions, source says

Editor’s note: This is a developing story.

The EU on May 14 agreed on its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, a senior EU official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Kyiv Independent.

The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, and 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex.

The new set of steps also includes measures targeting Russia’s hybrid operations, namely establishing the legal basis for countering propaganda outlets or vessels and entities involved in the sabotage of underwater cables, airports, or servers.

The EU will also sanction 20 entities and individuals involved in spreading disinformation, and 20 judges and prosecutors involved in cases against Russian oppositionists Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza.

Brussels is further imposing a ban on chemicals used in missile production.

“So, you can see the direction we are going. In addition to ‘traditional’ sectoral and individual sanctions, we are broadening and more actively using other sanctions to hit Russia where we see the threats or where they aim to bypass the existing sanctions,” the source said.