https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/10/23/19th-package-of-sanctions-against-russia-eu-targets-russian-energy-third-country-banks-and-crypto-providers/
EU Adopts 19th Sanctions Package Against Russia
On 23 October 2025, the Council of the European Union approved its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, significantly expanding economic, financial, and political pressure in response to Moscow’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine.
The new measures target Russian energy revenues, financial institutions, crypto-currency channels, the military-industrial complex, and third-country enablers, while also tightening controls on Russian diplomats and expanding accountability for the abduction and forced assimilation of Ukrainian children.
Key elements of the package include:
- Energy:
- A ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU (short-term contracts within six months; long-term contracts by January 2027).
- Expanded restrictions on Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.
- Sanctions on Chinese refineries and traders buying Russian crude, and on UAE-based Litasco Middle East, a major “shadow fleet” enabler.
- An additional 117 shadow fleet vessels banned from EU ports, bringing the total to 557, alongside a new ban on reinsuring shadow fleet ships.
- Finance & Crypto:
- Transaction bans on Russian banks including Alfa-Bank, MTS Bank, and others, as well as banks in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, the UAE, and Hong Kong involved in sanctions circumvention.
- Sanctions on the A7A5 stablecoin ecosystem, including its developer, issuer, and trading platform, with all EU transactions involving the coin prohibited.
- Prohibitions on EU engagement with Russia’s Mir payment system and Fast Payments System (SBP).
- Military & Trade:
- New export restrictions on CNC machine tools, microelectronics, UAV components, chemicals, alloys, and advanced technologies, targeting 45 additional entities (17 outside Russia, mostly in China, India, and Thailand).
- Sanctions on Russia’s largest gold producer, further cutting state revenues.
- Restrictions on AI services, high-performance computing, space-based services, and tourism-related services to Russia.
- Children & Human Rights:
- Eleven new listings targeting individuals involved in the forcible deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, with a new sanctions criterion to streamline future listings.
- Diplomats:
- Russian diplomats must now notify EU states in advance when traveling beyond their country of accreditation, with member states able to require special authorization.
- Belarus:
- Expanded sanctions targeting the Belarusian military-industrial complex, crypto payment services, and sensitive software, further aligning Belarus measures with Russia-focused sanctions.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas emphasized that the goal is to systematically choke off Russia’s ability to fund the war: “Every euro we deny Russia is one it cannot spend on war. The 19th package will not be the last.”
The EU reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and signaled readiness to adopt further sanctions as long as Russia continues its aggression.