meta_id 3093146

On 23 April 2026, the European Commission announced the adoption by EU Member States of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The comprehensive package includes measures spanning energy, financial services, trade, and media, with a particular focus on anti-circumvention mechanisms. The energy measures target the Russian energy sector with 36 new listings across upstream and downstream operations. The package expands restrictions on Russia's shadow fleet to 632 vessels, introducing port access bans and service prohibitions. New safeguards on tanker sales from the EU include mandatory "no Russia" clauses to prevent deployment within the shadow fleet. The package establishes a future maritime services ban on Russian crude oil and petroleum products, coordinated with the G7 and price cap coalition, and prohibits maintenance services for Russian liquefied natural gas tankers and icebreakers. Financial measures extend the ban on EU operators conducting business with 20 additional Russian banks, bringing the total excluded from the EU internal market to 70. The package introduces a sectorial ban on exchanges with Russian crypto asset service providers and decentralised trading platforms, and prohibits use of RUBx (a rouble-backed stablecoin) and the digital rouble. Payment services restrictions target agents facilitating international transactions bypassing sanctions. Trade measures introduce export bans on goods worth over €365 million and import bans on metals, chemicals and minerals worth over €530 million. The package designates 58 companies involved in military manufacturing and lists third-country suppliers from China, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus providing dual-use goods. The package activates the anti-circumvention tool for the first time, targeting systematic circumvention by the Kyrgyz Republic. Additional listings include 120 individuals and entities, with measures also protecting EU operators against retaliatory Russian actions and addressing propaganda through mirror outlet bans.