EU Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Russia's 'Shadow Fleet' and Hybrid Threats

On Monday, December 15, 2025, foreign ministers of the European Union convened in Brussels and formally approved a comprehensive new package of restrictive measures. The primary objective of these actions is to further curtail the revenue streams available to the Russian Federation, which are currently being utilized to finance its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The latest tightening of restrictions specifically targets the logistical infrastructure of the so-called 'shadow fleet' and aims to counter destabilizing hybrid operations.

Regarding the 'shadow fleet'—an estimated network comprising over 400 vessels—the EU has imposed sanctions on five businessmen and four corporate entities that are instrumental in keeping this operation afloat. These sanctioned parties, either directly or indirectly connected to state-owned oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, manage tankers that transport Russian crude using illicit methods. These tactics often involve disabling AIS transponders or conducting ship-to-ship transfers on the high seas to obscure the cargo's origin. The sanctions list includes Murtaza Lakhani, the founder of the oil trading firm M&M, alongside key figures from Azerbaijan’s 2Rivers Group (formerly Coral Energy): Etibar Eyubov, Talat Safarov, and Anar Madatli. Furthermore, shipping companies based in the UAE, Vietnam, and Russia that operate already-sanctioned tankers, such as Nova Shipmanagement LLC-FZ and Citrine Marine SPC, have also been targeted.

This decisive action has resulted in approximately 40 additional tankers being added to the EU's sanctions roster. Consequently, these vessels are now barred from accessing European ports and are unable to secure necessary insurance coverage from EU-based providers. This expansion brings the total number of ships subject to port access and insurance prohibitions to roughly 600 units. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaia Kallas, emphasized that the list of targeted tankers will undergo monthly reviews, signaling the bloc's commitment to an adaptive and persistent pressure strategy.

Concurrently, the Council of the EU introduced restrictions against 12 individuals and two organizations under the framework designed to counter hybrid threats. This move extends measures initially implemented in October 2024. These new restrictions are specifically aimed at combating foreign information manipulation and malicious cyber activities. Notably, Unit 29155 of the GRU and the hacking collective known as Cadet Blizzard have been sanctioned, as they are implicated by the European Council in cyberattacks against entities in both the Czech Republic and Ukraine. The hybrid sanctions list encompasses former military personnel, political analysts, think tank employees, and opinion leaders who actively disseminate pro-Russian narratives, including journalist Diana Panchenko and representatives of the Valdai Discussion Club. In a notable first for the EU, sanctions were also levied against a US citizen for supporting Russia across social media platforms. Among the sanctioned organizations is the 142nd Separate Radio-Electronic Warfare Battalion of the Russian Armed Forces, based in Kaliningrad, which has been linked to communication system disruptions.

During the same meeting, member states reached an agreement concerning the indefinite freezing of a portion of the Russian Central Bank's assets held within Europe. The intention is to channel future revenues generated from these frozen assets toward establishing a substantial new credit package designated for Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the cumulative number of sanctioned individuals and entities under the EU's main restrictive regime has now surpassed 2,600. These coordinated measures, which leverage both financial tools and targeted actions against key logistical intermediaries, underscore Brussels' comprehensive strategy to curb Russian economic capacity and destabilizing influence.