On May 20, 2025, the European Union announced an expansion of its sanctions lists, adding 21 individuals and six organizations linked to destabilizing the situation in the EU, its member states, and international partners. This information was released by the press service of the EU Council.

This time, the sanctions cover not only individuals and companies but also assets, and introduce the possibility of suspending licenses and blocking the broadcasts of pro-Kremlin media that negatively influence the situation in EU countries.

List of Sanctioned Individuals

Among those subjected to the new sanctions is Viktor Medvedchuk – a former Ukrainian politician and businessman close to Putin, known for his pro-Russian propaganda through media and the platform “Another Ukraine.” His associates, Artem Marchevsky and Oleg Voloshin, also controlled media outlets spreading Kremlin narratives.

Pro-Russian messages were also disseminated by bloggers such as Thomas Reper from Germany and Alina Lipp from Russia. Sanctions were also imposed on GRU operatives Alik Khuchbarov and Ilya Bocharov, who were involved in sabotage activities in Estonia.

Among the organizations sanctioned are the Turkish media company AFA Medya and its founder Hüseyin Doğru, as well as fishing companies Norebo JSC and Murman Sea Food, which were used for espionage and sabotage of infrastructure facilities.

The Main Radio Frequency Center (MRFC) and its head Ruslan Nesterenko were also sanctioned for disrupting GPS operations in the Baltic countries. Additionally, individuals involved in disinformation activities in Africa, including Viktor Lukovenko and the CEO of the press group International Africa Media, Justin Blaise Taguh, were targeted by sanctions.

Sanctions Against Russian Military Units

The EU Council also imposed sanctions on three Russian military units that are part of the Russian Armed Forces and participate in the development and use of chemical weapons in the war against Ukraine. This list includes the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops, the 27th Scientific Center, and the 33rd Central Research and Testing Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

These decisions are based on reports from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), published in November 2024 and February 2025.

The Importance of the New Sanctions Package

The 17th sanctions package against Russia, approved on May 20, is the largest since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, noted that this round includes hybrid sanctions, human rights-related measures, as well as sanctions aimed at banning the use of chemical weapons.

The sanctions entail asset freezes, entry bans to the EU, and prohibitions on EU citizens and companies providing financial support to those targeted by the sanctions.