EU ambassadors on Wednesday approved additional sanctions against Russia, adding several individuals and entities to the new blacklist prepared in response to the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.
Although this is not a broad sanctions package targeting major sectors—as seen in previous rounds—the EU has concentrated its measures on five individuals involved in the global oil trade. The goal is to pressure Russia as it continues selling oil below the G7-imposed price cap, currently set at $47.6 per barrel.
According to an official document seen by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Azerbaijani businessman Talat Safarov has been added to the blacklist.
Safarov is CEO of 2Rivers Group, a UAE-based oil-trading company that, according to Brussels, is actively involved in transporting and exporting Russian oil—particularly from state-owned energy giant Rosneft—while concealing the true origin of the oil.
The “Shadow Fleet”
Pakistani businessman Murtaza Ali Lakhani is also sanctioned, as he is believed to control “vessels transporting crude oil or petroleum products originating from or exported by Russia, using irregular and high-risk maritime practices.”
These practices include operating ships without proper insurance and disabling maritime tracking devices during voyages.
Three Russian individuals and four companies have also been sanctioned.
Two of these firms are based in the United Arab Emirates and are believed to have recently taken part in shipping Russian oil. Another company in Vietnam and one in Russia were added for owning or managing tankers that are part of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’.
Meanwhile, Brussels is expected on Friday to add 43 vessels believed to belong to the current shadow fleet. The list, which contains more than 500 ships, bans these vessels from receiving any services in EU ports.
EU ambassadors also agreed to target individuals believed to be carrying out destabilizing activities on Russia’s behalf around the world.
The updated blacklist includes John Mark Dougan, a dual American-Russian citizen and former Florida deputy sheriff who moved to Russia nearly a decade ago.
He is accused of taking part in pro-Kremlin digital information operations aimed at “influencing elections, discrediting political figures, and manipulating public discourse in Western countries.”
Former Swiss Army colonel Jacques Baud is also listed for acting as a pro-Russian propaganda voice and spreading conspiracy theories—for example, claiming that Ukraine staged its own invasion in order to join NATO.
Former French military officer Xavier Moreau is sanctioned for similar actions.
Also targeted are Dmitry Suslov, Fyodor Lukyanov, and Andrei Sushentsov, described as foreign-policy analysts closely tied to the Valdai Discussion Club. They are accused of spreading Kremlin-linked disinformation.
Several officials from Russia’s GRU military intelligence have also been listed, accused of responsibility for a series of cyberattacks in recent years against Ukraine and EU member states.
