Seventeen: EU sanctions rusty tankers, rocket fuel chemicals and spies fishermen
The European countries finally adopted a seventeenth pack of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday because of the war in Ukraine, but did not announce a date from which it will come into force. A spokesman for the European Commission said it was being done « to give peace negotiations a chance » without committing to the period of publication in the sanctions in the « official EU newspaper » that would activate them.
The seventeenth package aims to further limit Russia’s access to combat technology and reduce revenue from Russian energy imports and to limit the work of the Russian shady fleet.
The package also expands to 2400 individuals and legal entities who are forbidden to travel to Europe and their assets are frozen.
The old tankers
Another 189 ships originating in third countries used by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions have been added to the EU list of seaside vessels that cannot dock in ports and receive other marine services. With this, the total number of old tankers, part of the so -called « Russian shady fleet » becomes 342.
London sanctions 100 tankers from the Russian shady fleet
Russia usually uses old oil tankers that it buys cheaply without opening its ownership of them to disrupt sanctions by selling Russian oil below the Western sanctions price of $ 60 per barrel.
The restrictive measures against the shady fleet are intended to dismantle its operational capacity, thus reducing the revenue from oil, which support the Russian military economy, the EU Council said.
Due to the restrictions on the use of tankers, the supplies of Russian crude oil on them have decreased by 76%.
Trade restrictions
In addition, the EU imposes individual sanctions on 17 persons and 57 organizations aimed at participants who allow the operation of the shady fleet, as shipping companies responsible for transporting crude oil and oil products by sea and participating in dangerous practices by sea. These include subjects from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Hong Kong. The list also includes an important insurer of the Russian oil transport industry. Their assets will be frozen and will be banned from European organizations from providing them with funds.
Game of Numbers: The Russian economy is worse than it seems
Ever since the EU introduced oil prices and sanctions on the shady fleet, Russian revenue has decreased by 13.7% compared to March 2023 and 20.3% lower than those in March 2022.
Suspicious activities
Two fishing companies have been added to the restrictions – Norebo and Murman Sifud, whose routes deviate from traditional catching areas and they often find themselves critically important infrastructure.
On board some of the ships of the two companies, an apparatus, which can be used for spy activities, has been established.
As well as the main radio -parts center, which is believed to be relevant to the loss of GPS signal for the conduct of aircraft that violated the work of civil aviation in some Baltic countries and in Poland.
The EU believes that the center is responsible for planning, participation directly or indirectly and facilitating the implementation of Russian government policies, which undermine or threaten the stability or security of the EU or of several Member States,
Energy
In order to further limit the sources of revenue of Russia, the EU also imposes restrictive measures against « Surgutneftegaz » – A large Russian oil and gas company that provides considerable revenue to the Russian government, directly nourishing its military efforts. The list also includes an important Russian oil company.
The 17th package involves an extension of one year of release from the ceiling of oil prices, which allows the transport of crude oil originating from the Sakhalin-2 project (developing a gas deposit in the Okhotsk Sea) in Russia with vessels to Japan to ensure the supply of Japan.
Sector
The EU imposes sanctions on more than 45 Russian companies and persons providing the Russian army drones, weapons, ammunition, military equipment, critical components and logistics support.
This group includes Russian and Chinese companies supplying machine tools to the Russian military and industrial sectors, as well as Belarusian and Israeli state -owned companies providing critical components of the Russian Army, including for the dronesS
The Council also added 31 new entities to the list of those subject to stricter export restrictions on goods and dual -use technologiesbecause of their support for the Russian military and industrial complex in her war against Ukraine. Some of these companies are located in third countries (Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Vietnam and Uzbekistan) and have participated in circumventing export restrictions, including unmanned aerial vehicles or digital driving machines.
EU export restrictions on goods that contribute to the military and technological improvement of Russia, its development of its sector for defense and security, the development or production of its military systems are also expanding. Among them are chemical precursors such as sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, aluminum powder, magnesium powder and pine powder used as a rocket fuel.
Added ball screws and encoders serving as components and spare parts for high -precision machines with digital program management. Machines are already largely covered by the already current sanctions
