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Economic Sanctions

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Council of the EU imposes sanctions on 9 enablers of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” including 5 businessmen linked to Rosneft and Lukoil and 4 shipping firms in the UAE, Vietnam, and Russia

These measures include asset freezes and travel bans, preventing EU citizens and companies from providing funds to the listed parties. The sanctions aim to curb Russia’s revenue from energy exports, reinforcing the EU’s ongoing response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has already seen over 2,600 individuals and entities sanctioned under Ukraine-related restrictive…

EU adopts new measures against the Russian shadow fleet ecosystem and Belarus, expanding sanctions on vessels, operators, and networks involved in evasion to strengthen EU security

The EU Commission announced new restrictive measures focused on key elements of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet to further cut Moscow’s revenue from maritime oil exports and limit its ability to finance the war in Ukraine. It also adopted expanded criteria to target Belarusian individuals and groups involved in activities undermining EU democracy, rule of law and security, including hybrid threats such as contraband balloon incursions…

Council of the EU sanctions 12 individuals and 2 entities over Russia’s Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference and malicious cyber attacks on the EU and its partners

Those sanctioned include foreign-policy analysts, influencers spreading pro-Russian propaganda, members of the Russian Military Intelligence Agency GRU (unit 29155), cyber threat group Cadet Blizzard, the International Russophile Movement, and the 142nd Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion. The measures involve asset freezes, travel bans, and prohibitions on EU citizens and companies from providing funds or resources…

Council of the EU decides to prohibit any transfer of immobilised Russian central-bank assets back to Russia to prevent the Kremlin from regaining access to frozen funds

The decision confirms that EU member states must not release, return or otherwise transfer immobilised Central Bank of Russia assets held in their jurisdictions, reinforcing restrictive measures adopted in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It also provides legal clarity ahead of forthcoming EU action on the use of windfall profits generated from these assets, ensuring that Russia cannot reclaim or benefit from them while its aggression continues.

U.S Treasury targets Maduro-linked insiders and shipping firms in Venezuela’s oil sector, freezing assets and blocking transactions to cut off illicit financial support

OFAC designates three nephews of Maduro’s wife, a Venezuelan oil-sector official, a businessman with regime ties, and six shipping companies and associated vessels for their role in facilitating illicit oil shipments and financial support for the Maduro government. These actions block all U.S. property and interests of the designated persons and entities and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them, aiming to cut off revenue streams that fuel corruption, narco-trafficking and the Venezuelan regime’s continued…

U.S. Treasury sanctions a transnational network recruiting Colombians for Sudan’s civil war, freezing assets and blocking transactions to halt foreign conflict financing

OFAC imposed sanctions on four individuals and four entities for their roles in fueling the civil war in Sudan, a conflict that has provoked the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crisis.  This transnational network—primarily composed of Colombian nationals and companies—recruits former Colombian military personnel and trains soldiers, including children, to fight for the Sudanese paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)…

OFAC imposes a $7.1M penalty on Gracetown Inc. for repeatedly violating U.S. Russia-related sanctions and failing to report blocked assets tied to a sanctioned Russian oligarch

OFAC finds that Gracetown continued to receive payments on behalf of a company ultimately owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska — despite explicit notice that conducting such transactions was prohibited — and also failed to timely report blocked assets in its possession. The enforcement action, approaching the statutory maximum, underscores Treasury’s commitment to holding U.S. persons accountable for compliance with sanctions programs and reporting obligations.

UK imposes landmark counter-terrorism sanctions on a financier and key Hamas-linked organisation, freezing assets and disrupting funding flows to protect national security

The action designates Mohammed Abu Shamala and the Lebanon-based al-Shahid Social Association under the UK’s counter-terrorism sanctions regime, freezing their assets and prohibiting UK persons from providing funds, economic resources or financial services to them. It marks the first time the UK has used its autonomous terrorism sanctions powers to target entities operating outside conflict zones, signalling a strengthened effort to cut off global financial support networks linked to Hamas…

UK imposes sanctions on a Russian intelligence agency linked to the Skripal poisonings, freezing its assets and prohibiting UK dealings to hold Russia accountable for state-sponsored chemical attacks

UK announces sanctions against the GRU as Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report finds Putin personally ordered their activity in Salisbury in 2018. The GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, is now sanctioned in its entirety by the UK. GRU agents carry out Putin’s bidding, seeking to destabilise Ukraine and attempting to sow chaos and disorder across Europe. The action comes as the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry publishes its final report into the tragic circumstances surrounding Dawn Sturgess’s death in Salisbury in 2018…

OTSI publishes its one-year update report, highlighting 146 breach assessments, 60 licence applications, enhanced reporting, whistleblower protections, and trade sanctions support for businesses

During the reporting period, OTSI received 60 licence applications, 12 of which were granted in full or partially, and 3 of which were refused.  OTSI also received 146 reports or referrals of potential breaches of trade sanctions, although no civil monetary penalties have been imposed by OTSI to date.  OTSI notes that its key priorities going forward including expanding its licensing remit and being more proactive around enforcement…

FCDO and OFSI will host a public webinar on 17 Dec 2025 at 11am GMT to discuss the transition from the UK Consolidated List to a single list for UK sanctions designations, coming into effect on 28 Jan 2026

This session offers a chance to understand the improvements being introduced and learn the steps you can take to prepare for the change. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, where they will explain the upcoming transition from the UK Consolidated List to a single UK sanctions list, effective 28 January 2026…

Europol tightens the net on sanctions evasion, using intelligence and cross-border cooperation to help Member States target networks exploiting EU restrictions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine

Europol establishes a new “Target Group Sanctions” unit within its European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) and, together with European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), launches a joint initiative — Project Transporter — to support EU member states in uncovering and dismantling networks that facilitate sanctions evasion, including illicit trade routes, money laundering, document forgery and customs fraud…

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