On 23 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted the 21st package of restrictive measures against Russia, aiming to further cripple its economy and war machine. The package includes the highest number of individual listings in four years, totalling 218 (48 individuals and 170 entities), and introduces new measures targeting Russia's energy sector, financial services, and crypto-asset platforms.
The package tightens screws on Russia's financial sector by imposing asset freezes on 94 banks and financial institutions, extending transaction bans to 33 additional Russian credit institutions, and targeting a Kyrgyz bank connected to Russia's SPFS system. For the first time, the EU introduces the possibility of a full third-country ban for crypto-asset services, as a deterrent to countries hosting platforms that help Russia evade sanctions. The package also extends transaction bans to 14 crypto-related service platforms based in Georgia, Panama, the UAE, the Marshall Islands, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus.
In the energy sector, the EU pauses the automatic adjustment of the oil price cap mechanism until 15 July 2027, to contain Russia's oil profits amid the Strait of Hormuz closure. It targets the shadow fleet by listing 41 additional vessels (bringing the total to over 670) and designating entities providing bunkering and other services. The package also targets oil refineries, including three in Russia and a major Belarusian refinery, and imposes a transaction ban on a Georgian refinery processing Russian oil. Additionally, the EU introduces a notification obligation for LNG tanker sales and a possibility to restrict sales to Russian citizens.
The package targets Russia's military industrial complex with 56 listings, including 37 directly linked to long-range drone production and supply chains. It adds 51 new entities to the dual-use export restrictions list, including entities in China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and the UAE. Trade measures expand export bans to include nickel powders, beryllium powders, and aviation items for UAVs, and import bans on goods worth over €60 million, such as copper ores, nickel ores, and glassware.
Other measures include a comprehensive visa ban for Russian combatants and ex-combatants, designations of 8 individuals for war propaganda, and a war criminal for torture and executions. The EU also strengthens legal protection for EU operators against Russian court decisions. The package includes mirror measures against Belarus on trade and legal protection.
The adoption follows the European Council conclusions of 18 June 2026, which called for swift adoption of the 21st package to further increase pressure on Russia. The package also builds on restrictive measures adopted on 13 July 2026 addressing human rights in Russia and cyberattacks.