Russia Sanctions: 6th sanctions package

Oil

• It is prohibited to purchase, import or transfer crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia into the EU. This includes technical assistance, brokering services, financing and financial assistance.
• The prohibition extends to transport, including through ship-to-ship transfers, to third countries.
• The phasing out of Russian oil will take from six months for crude oil to eight months for other refined petroleum products.
• A temporary exception is foreseen for imports of crude oil by pipeline into those EU Member States that, due to their geographic situation, suffer from a specific dependence on Russian supplies and have no viable alternatives.
• Moreover, Bulgaria and Croatia will also benefit from temporary derogations concerning the import of Russian seaborne crude oil and vacuum gas oil respectively.
• There is a further, limited, exception for transactions strictly necessary to purchase, transport, etc. oil, gas and other products from or through Russia into the EU, the EEA, Switzerland or the Western Balkans.

De-SWIFTing of additional Russian and Belarusian banks

• The EU is extending the existing prohibition on the provision of specialised financial messaging services (SWIFT) to Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow and Russian Agricultural Bank, as well as the Belarusian Bank for Development and Reconstruction.

Export restrictions

• The EU is expanding the list of persons and entities concerned by export restrictions regarding dual-use goods and technology (see Annex "New entities and individuals for dual-use products").
• Moreover, the EU expanded the list of goods and technology which may contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia's defence and security sector. This will include 80 chemicals which can be used to produce chemical weapons (see Annex "Prohibited export enhancement goods and dual-use goods").

Consulting services

• It is prohibited to provide accounting, public relations and consultancy services (after a grace period until 5 July) to the Government of Russia and Russian entities. NOTE: The original press release of the EU also stated that it would prohibit cloud services to Russia. The EU has seemingly backpedalled on this point and the new release (here) only mentions accounting, public relations and consultancy services.
• This does not apply to Russian subsidiaries owned or controlled by EU Member State entities.
• This does not apply to legal assistance necessary for the right of defence or effective legal remedy.

Individual listings

• Furthermore, the Council decided to sanction an additional 65 individuals and 18 entities (see Annex "Designated List New Entities and Individuals Financial Sanctions 3 June 2022"). The newly listed, completely blocked entities are:
  • JSC GARNIZON
  • JSC OBORONENERGO
  • OJSC Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant (UAZ)
  • JSC VOENTELECOM (VOYENTELEKOM)
  • JSC VOENTORG
  • VOENTEKSTILPROM LLC
  • INDEPENDENT INSURANCE GROUP
  • PJSC KAMAZ alias KAMAZ PTC
  • JSC KRONSHTADT TEKHNOLOGII Group of Companies
  • Management Company Tatneft-Neftekhim LLC
  • Nizhnekamsk All-Steel Tyre Plant, LLC
  • PJSC Nizhnekamskshina
  • LLC TD KAMA
  • OJSC Balashikha Casting and Mechanical Plant, a.k.a. OJSC BLMZ
  • JSC REMDIZEL
  • JSC SUKHOI Company
  • JSC "121 AIRCRAFT REPAIR PLANT"
  • National Settlement Depository (NSD)

Import of goods

• There has been a slight change to the list of goods and technology that must not be imported from Russia (see Annex "Prohibited goods and technology to import" with old and new lists).

Broadcasting

• The EU is suspending the broadcasting activities in the EU of Rossiya RTR/RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24 / Russia 24 and TV Centre International.
• In line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, these measures will not prevent those media outlets and their staff from carrying out activities in the EU other than broadcasting, e.g. research and interviews.

author: Christoph Haid