EU expands sanctions against Russia due to hybrid and cyber threats it poses

The Council of the European Union has imposed restrictive measures on a further 12 individuals and 2 entities over Russia's continued hybrid activities, including foreign information manipulation and cyberattacks against the EU, its member states and partners.

The list includes prominent foreign policy analysts working at institutions and think tanks affiliated with the Kremlin apparatus.

The Council of the EU also sanctioned individuals involved in promoting pro-Russian propaganda and anti-Ukrainian and anti-NATO narratives, including former military and police officers from Western European countries.

Sanctions were additionally imposed on the International Russophile Movement for spreading destabilising narratives on behalf of the Russian government, as well as on the 142nd Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion based in Kaliningrad, which conducts training and cyber operations, including GPS signal disruption in several EU member states.

Separately, members of Russia's military intelligence (unit 29155) and the cyber threat group Cadet Blizzard were placed under sanctions for carrying out attacks on Ukrainian government bodies, EU member states and NATO allies aimed at collecting sensitive information and destabilising the political situation.

In total, restrictive measures now apply to 59 individuals and 17 entities.

On the same day, the European Union also expanded the framework of its sanctions regime against Belarus to cover hybrid hostile actions carried out by Belarus against its European neighbours.

Last week EU member states' permanent representatives agreed on the introduction of new sanctions against Russia.

EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas has also announced that a further 40 vessels from Russia's shadow fleet will be added to the sanctions list.