The European Union’s ninth package of sanctions added 168 Russian entities to the list of entities connected to Russia’s military-industrial complex to the sanctions list.
The European Commission’s First Deputy Chairperson Valdis Dombrovskis announced this in a statement, the CFTS portal reports, citing the Liga publication.
"The main restrictions concern 168 entities related to the Russian military-industrial complex. This brings the total number of entities sanctioned to 410. We are also expanding the ban on investments in the Russian energy and mining sectors," Dombrovskis said.
He added that the sanctions also prohibit investment in the Russian business services sector, including advertising, market research, and public opinion polling services.
The European Union is also imposing new export controls and restrictions on dual-use goods and technology, such as chemicals, IT components, and electronics.
Furthermore, the European Union is expanding the export ban on aviation and space-industry related goods and technology to include aircraft engines and parts for them. This prohibition will apply to both manned and unmanned aircraft, meaning that from now on there will be a ban on the direct exports of drone engines to Russia and any third country that could supply drones to Russia.
The European Union will also impose an asset freeze against two additional Russian banks and add the Russian Regional Development Bank to the list of Russian state-owned or controlled entities that are subject to a full transaction ban.
The EU Council has also initiated the process of suspending the broadcasting licenses of four additional Russian media outlets: NTV/NTV Mir, Rossiya 1, REN TV, and Pervy Kanal.
As of today, EU nationals will be forbidden from holding any posts on the governing bodies of all Russian state-owned or controlled legal persons, entities, or bodies located in Russia.
Earlier on Friday, the European Commission’s head Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the European Union had agreed on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia.
"I welcome the agreement on the ninth sanctions package against Russia. It focuses on tech, finance, and media to push the Russian economy and war machine further off the rails. It sanctions almost 200 individuals and entities involved in attacks on civilians, and kidnapping children," von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.
On 12 December, European Union foreign ministers failed to agree the ninth package of sanctions. According to the Reuters news agency, the adoption of the ninth package of sanctions was being delayed because of disagreements over whether to allow the export of Russian fertilizers through European ports if they are made by companies owned by sanctioned oligarchs. However, the European Union agreed the ninth package of sanctions against Russia on 15 December.
