Four years of war: the UK adopts sweeping sanctions as the EU struggles to reach agreement on the 20th package

The UK, on the other hand, introduced sweeping new measures, marking the anniversary of the Russian invasion and reiterating their efforts to curtail Russia's war machine. 

The UK designates close to 250 additional entities and individuals 

The UK has adopted the largest package of sanctions since the beginning of the invasion in 2022, targeting among others 175 entities in Russia's largest dark fleet network, all of which are stated to be associated with sanctioned Azeri businessman Tahir Garayev. It is notable that the majority of the newly sanctioned entities are not Russian, but entities registered in the UAE, China or Hong Kong.   

The UK has also sanctioned Russia's state-owned oil pipeline company PJSC Transneft. With the new measures, the UK is sending a clear message – "Russian oil is off the market". 

In addition, the new UK sanctions target: 

• 49 entities and individuals, including international suppliers, providing goods, components and technologies in Russian drones and other weapons;
• 5 entities and individuals involved in civil nuclear energy;
• 6 targets in the LNG industry; and
• 9 Russian banks

A further 50 ships have also been specified under the Russian sanctions regime. With today's action, the UK has sanctioned more than 3,000 individuals, entities and ships in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

What to expect from the 20th package? 

On 6 February, the EU Commission presented its proposal for the 20th package of sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The proposal targets Russia's revenue-generating energy sector and maritime sectors, new trade and financial restrictions, and continued efforts to close circumvention loopholes. The package, intended to be adopted on 24 February to mark the four-year anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion, has faced challenges in Hungary's veto over Russian oil. As the EU continues discussions to reach an agreement, it remains unclear when the 20th package will be adopted.

Leading up to the anniversary, the EU has imposed restrictive measures on eight individuals under its regime for human rights violations in Russia. 

Additional US measures? 

The US has not announced any additional sanctions leading up to the four-year anniversary, but imposed its first-ever action under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act. The US also introduced additional sanctions under its malicious cyber-enabled activities regime. The actions targeted Russian and third-country nationals and entities for their acquisition and distribution of cyber tools harmful to US national security.