The 27 EU member nations of the European Council adopted a sweeping 19th package of further sanctions on Russia, on Oct. 23, including 69 individual listings and numerous restrictive economic measures targeting key sectors that, the EU charges, fuel Russia’s war in Ukraine, including energy, finance, and the military-industrial complex.
The Council is also strengthening control over the movement of Russian diplomats across the EU and taking further measures against those responsible for Russia’s alleged abduction of Ukrainian children, as the EU has claimed. There are many other measures in this omnibus sanctions package, praised last night, Oct. 22, by EU official Kaja Kallas. For example, more ships were designated as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of carrying cargo benefitting Russia, bringing the total number of such designated ships up to 558.
