The European Union Council today imposed additional new restrictive measures against Russian actors. These measures target twenty-one individuals and also six different entities for their actions. They are deemed responsible for Russia’s various destabilizing hostile actions carried out abroad. The Council has also significantly broadened the overall existing scope of its sanctions regime. The EU can now target many tangible assets linked to Russia’s destabilizing activities. This includes items like vessels aircraft real estate and even digital network elements. Financial and crypto-asset service transactions that facilitate these activities are also now covered. These sanctions aim to counter Russia’s widespread hybrid threats much more effectively now.
The Council can now suspend broadcasting licenses of Russian media outlets under Kremlin control. This action targets the systematic international Russian campaign of extensive media manipulation. It aims to stop the distortion of facts meant to destabilize EU neighbors. However targeted media outlets and staff can still conduct other non-broadcasting activities. Today’s extensive listings include former Ukrainian politician and businessman Viktor Medvedchuk. He and his listed associates controlled Ukrainian media to spread pro-Russian propaganda. The Voice of Europe media channel was also listed for its role in these efforts.
Individuals undermining democracy in Estonia and Germany such as GRU operatives were targeted.
The new EU sanctions also targeted two major Russian fishing companies Norebo JSC and Murman Sea Food. These companies were reportedly part of a Russian state-sponsored extensive surveillance and espionage campaign. They allegedly conducted espionage missions and also sabotage on very critical undersea infrastructure. Russia’s General Radio Frequency Center (GRFC) and its director were also sanctioned by the EU. GRFC is held responsible for electronic warfare actions including GPS jamming and signal spoofing. These actions primarily affected the Baltic states and significantly disrupted regional civil aviation. The head of African Initiative a news agency spreading Russian propaganda in Africa was listed. Web hosting service Stark Industries and its leaders were also sanctioned for enabling hostile acts.
They helped Russian state actors conduct information manipulation interference and various cyber-attacks.
All those designated today will be immediately subject to a comprehensive asset freeze. European Union citizens and companies are now forbidden from making funds available to them. Additionally all listed natural persons will also be subject to an EU travel ban. The European Council has strongly condemned all types of Russia’s rising hybrid activities. The EU and its member states will continue to use their full range of tools. This is to protect prevent deter from and also respond to such malicious behavior. Stark Industries a UK web host enabled Russian cyber-attacks and information manipulation efforts. It was known as bulletproof hosting but also reportedly collaborated with some security researchers. This collaboration was to take down malicious infrastructure used by groups like FIN7.
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