The Council of the European Union on 13 July 2026 imposed restrictive measures on 15 individuals and one entity for serious human rights violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees in occupied Ukrainian territories and Russia. The sanctions, adopted under the EU's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and a separate Russia-specific regime, target perpetrators of torture, degrading treatment, and killings, including those responsible for the 2022 Olenivka prison massacre and systematic abuse at Penal Colony No 10 in Pakino, Russia. Those listed face asset freezes and travel bans, with EU citizens and companies barred from providing funds to them.
The decision marks the latest EU action to hold Russia accountable for war crimes in Ukraine. It follows a 16 March 2026 EU statement at the UN Human Rights Council condemning Russia's violations, including summary executions and sexual violence. The EU's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, established on 7 December 2020, targets serious abuses worldwide, while the Russia-specific regime, adopted on 27 May 2024, focuses on repression and human rights violations within Russia. The European Council had already on 23 March 2023 stressed the need for full respect of international humanitarian law and accountability for violations in Ukraine.
Among those sanctioned is Dmitry Neelov, first deputy head of the Olenivka prison in Donetsk, directly responsible for the mass killing of Ukrainian prisoners on 28-29 July 2022 by delaying evacuation after a Russian attack. Also listed is Alexei Khavetsky, deputy head of security at Penal Colony No 7 in Pakino, who orchestrated systematic mistreatment including electric shocks, starvation, and sexual violence. The entity targeted is Pre-trial detention center-2 Taganrog (SIZO 2), where journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna died after a year of detention with signs of torture. Seven additional individuals from Penal Colony No 10 in Udarny, including its head Alexander Gnutov, were listed under the Russia-specific regime for abuse of Ukrainian civilians and POWs.
The sanctions impose an asset freeze and travel ban on listed individuals and entities. The EU reiterated its call for unhindered access by independent monitors, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to all detainees, and stressed the need for accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law. The legal acts were published in the Official Journal of the EU on 13 July 2026.