EU adopts 18th package of economic and individual restrictive measures against Russia

On 19 July 2025, the European Union published in the Official Journal the “18^th sanctions package” against Russia.

The new restrictive measures are laid down in the following Council Decisions and Regulations:

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1478 of 18 July 2025, amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1476 of 18 July 2025, implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1495 of 18 July 2025, amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.
• Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1494 of 18 July 2025, amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.

Below is a detailed overview of the main restrictive measures introduced by the aforementioned eighteenth sanctions package.

Targeted measures

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1476 added the following to Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 269/2014:

• 14 natural persons
• 41 entities

responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

The designated parties include companies and their executives, both Russian and of other nationalities (Chinese, Azerbaijani, etc.). As a direct consequence of their inclusion in Annex I, all funds and economic resources owned, held or controlled by these persons are frozen. Furthermore, it is prohibited to make funds or economic resources available to them, either directly or indirectly, or to provide them for their benefit.