EU ambassadors agree 22nd Russia sanctions package, adding over 1,500 entities
Version 2: EU ambassadors have now agreed the package rather than merely planning to, and later reporting added RBC's figure of more than 1,600 entries, the 743 individuals and 826 organisations breakdown, new State Duma members among the targets, and the expected 12 October approval in Luxembourg.
In short
EU ambassadors agreed a 22nd sanctions package against Russia that adds more than 1,500 individuals and legal entities to the bloc's lists, according to TASS, Kommersant, Interfax, RBC and Meduza. Interfax and Meduza reported the package covers 743 people and 826 organisations, most of them tied to the defence industry, and Interfax said part of the measures concerns new State Duma members. RBC put the total at more than 1,600 entries, while before the agreement Reuters reported about 1,650 and TASS preliminarily said 1,570. EU foreign ministers are expected to give final approval on 12 October.
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EU ambassadors agreed the bloc's 22nd sanctions package against Russia on 7 October, according to TASS, Kommersant, Interfax, RBC and Meduza. RIA Novosti, citing a source, also reported that EU permanent representatives had agreed the expansion. The measures add more than 1,500 individuals and legal entities to the sanctions lists, according to TASS, Kommersant and Interfax. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Interfax reported that the package covers 743 individuals and 826 organisations, with the main part of the measures aimed at the Russian military-industrial complex. Meduza, citing Euronews, gave the same figures, saying the EU considers those listed to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kommersant, citing Reuters ahead of the decision, said most of the new entries were connected to the military-industrial complex. [ 1 , 5 , 7 ]
Meduza reported that all organisations in the new list appear on a closed list of defence enterprises of Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade that was published by the Dossier centre in 2025, and that the investigative project Systema had earlier said defence-industry organisations and their managers and employees would be targeted, with sanctions on some organisations being expanded rather than imposed for the first time. [ 7 ]
Interfax reported that part of the sanctions also concerns new members of the State Duma. No names were given in the documents. [ 5 ]
Figures reported before the agreement differed. Kommersant, citing Reuters and European diplomats, said the package would include about 1,650 new organisations and individuals. TASS preliminarily reported 1,570 legal and physical persons. After the agreement, TASS, Kommersant and Interfax said more than 1,500, while RBC put the total at more than 1,600 and described the package as the largest since the start of military action in Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
TASS and Kommersant reported that EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas has said the 22nd package would be the largest since 2022, increasing the number of sanctioned Russian individuals, companies and organisations by a third. Kommersant said that after approval by ambassadors the lists go to EU foreign ministers for final approval on 12 October; Meduza said the ministers are due to meet in Luxembourg that day. RBC reported that Moscow calls Western sanctions ineffective and illegitimate. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
The previous, 21st EU sanctions package was adopted on 23 July and included restrictions on the oil sectors of Russia and Belarus, banks and payment systems, the Moscow Exchange and crypto infrastructure, the LNG market, transport and metals, according to Kommersant. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
If the lists are finalised by EU foreign ministers on 12 October, this would be one of the largest single expansions of the EU's Russia sanctions lists, with most entries tied to the defence industry and its suppliers rather than the wider economy. Interfax reported that part of the measures concerns new State Duma members, extending the lists into the political sphere. Moscow has dismissed Western sanctions as ineffective and illegitimate, according to RBC.
Key facts
- EU ambassadors agreed to add more than 1,500 individuals and legal entities to Russia-related sanctions lists [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Interfax and Meduza reported the package adds 743 people and 826 organisations [ 5 , 7 ]
- Most of the new entries are linked to the Russian defence sector or military-industrial complex [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Interfax said part of the sanctions concerns new members of the State Duma [ 5 ]
- Before the agreement, Reuters reported the package would include around 1,650 new organisations and individuals [ 1 ]
- TASS preliminarily reported the package would list 1,570 legal and physical persons [ 2 ]
- After approval by ambassadors, the lists go to EU foreign ministers for final approval on 12 October [ 1 , 7 ]
- RBC put the package at more than 1,600 individuals and legal entities, calling it the largest since the start of military action in Ukraine [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- EU ambassadors agreed the 22nd sanctions package against Russia [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The package adds more than 1,500 individuals and legal entities to the sanctions lists [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Most of the new entries are linked to the Russian defence sector or military-industrial complex [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- The package adds 743 individuals and 826 organisations [ 5 , 7 ]
- EU foreign ministers are expected to give final approval on 12 October [ 1 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- The exact number of individuals and entities in the package Figures differ between outlets: Reuters reported around 1,650 before the vote, TASS preliminarily reported 1,570, after the agreement TASS, Kommersant and Interfax said more than 1,500, and RBC said more than 1,600.
- Whether and which new State Duma members are covered Reported only by Interfax, citing European media, and not named.
- Whether the package was agreed unanimously and by which ambassadors' body Documents say ambassadors or permanent representatives agreed it, but give no vote details.
- Whether the package is the largest since 2022 TASS and Kommersant attribute the claim to EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas, while RBC frames it as the largest since the start of military action in Ukraine; the documents do not reconcile the formulations.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kommersant, citing Reuters and European diplomats, reports that EU ambassadors plan to agree the 22nd sanctions package on 7 October, with about 1,650 new organisations and individuals, most linked to the military-industrial complex, and that the lists would go to EU foreign ministers on 12 October. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports the planned vote and a preliminary figure of 1,570 legal and physical persons. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports that EU ambassadors have agreed the 22nd sanctions package, covering more than 1,500 companies and individuals linked to Russia's defence sector. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant, citing TASS and an unnamed European source, reports the same agreement. [ 4 ]
- Interfax reports that EU permanent representatives agreed to add more than 1,500 individuals and legal entities, with 743 people and 826 organisations targeted in the defence sector and part of the measures concerning new Duma members. [ 5 ]
- RBC reports the ambassadors' approval of more than 1,600 individuals and legal entities, which it calls the largest expansion since the start of military action in Ukraine, and notes Moscow calls the sanctions ineffective and illegitimate. [ 6 ]
- Meduza, citing Euronews, reports the agreement and the 743 individuals and 826 organisations, and says official approval is expected on 12 October at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg. [ 7 ]
- RIA Novosti reports, citing a source, that EU permanent representatives agreed the expansion of anti-Russian sanctions. [ 8 ]
- EU foreign ministers are due to give final approval to the lists. [ 1 , 7 ]