Von der Leyen noted that Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine, deliberately targeting the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in an attempt to paralyze the country at the onset of winter.
“The eight sanctions packages we introduced are already biting hard. And today we are increasing the pressure on Russia with the ninth sanctions package,” he stressed.
According to the head of the EC, the package contains the following main restrictions:
- the list of sanctioned persons was supplemented, which also included almost 200 natural and legal persons. Among them are the Russian Armed Forces, as well as individual officers and enterprises of the defense industry, members of the State Duma and the Federation Council, ministers, governors, political parties, etc. This list includes key figures involved in Russia’s brutal and deliberate rocket attacks on the civilian population, the abduction of Ukrainian children and the theft of Ukrainian agricultural products;
- sanctions were introduced against three other Russian banks, including a complete ban on transactions by the Russian Regional Development Bank;
- it introduced new controls and restrictions on exports, especially on dual-use goods. These are key chemicals, nerve agents, electronic and computer components that can be used by the Russian military machine;
- it blocked Russia’s access to any drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. That is, there will be a ban on the direct export of drone engines to Russia and on exports to third countries, such as Iran, which can supply drones to Russia;
- a ban on the broadcasting of four additional TV channels and all other platforms for the dissemination of Russian propaganda on European television channels was introduced;
- introduced further economic measures against the Russian energy and mining sectors, including a ban on new investment in Russia’s mining industry.
Furthermore, this package is complemented by a comprehensive EU ban on the import of Russian offshore oil, which came into force this week, as well as a global oil price cap agreed by the G7.
“Russia’s international anti-war cooperation has never been stronger. We support Ukraine and make Russia pay for its cruelty. We are united and firm,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
