EU lists 826 Russian companies and 743 executives in its largest sanctions expansion

The Council of the European Union on 12 October adopted restrictions against 826 Russian companies and 743 of their executives. According to the Council, which represents the EU's member states, this is the largest single expansion of the bloc's sanctions list to date.

The listings target suppliers of components for missiles, drones and aviation. The companies produce electronics, radars, communications equipment, optics and navigation systems. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that more than half of the new listings relate to the production chain for ballistic missiles.

What the measures involve

The restrictions include asset freezes and a ban on making funds or economic resources available to the listed individuals and companies. Listed individuals are also barred from entering the EU.

Wadephul: pressure will increase

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the new sanctions should make it harder for Russia to continue the war and to strike Ukrainian civilians.

"We will increase pressure until Putin is ready to negotiate seriously about peace in Ukraine," he said, according to the DeepState Telegram channel, which relayed his remarks.

Wadephul also linked the sanctions on drone manufacturers to Russian hybrid attacks on EU states, a term generally used for sabotage, cyber operations and other actions short of open warfare. He cited the attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle airport as an example of a direct threat to Germany. He said Berlin had pushed for additional sanctions in this area. The source material gives no further details of the Leipzig/Halle incident, and they could not be independently verified here.

Context

The new listings are separate from another EU package announced the same day, in which the Council added three individuals and four entities to its North Korea sanctions list over missile and nuclear programmes and links with Russia.

Sanctions on Russian military suppliers have also been a topic in Ukraine. Earlier this month, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said 22 of 58 Russian firms involved in making the Kinzhal missile were not under any sanctions. The sources do not say whether any of those companies are among the newly listed ones.

The figures and the "largest ever" description come from the Council of the EU as reported by DeepState. The full list of names was not included in the source material. The Russian government has not commented in the sources available.