EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia adds 48 individuals and 170 entities, extends transaction bans to crypto networks and third-country banks, and reshapes the oil-price-cap mechanism
On 23 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia, together with parallel measures targeting Belarus. The package adds 48 individuals and 170 entities to the asset-freeze regimes and amends Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 and Regulation (EU) No 269/2014, the principal EU Russia sectoral and asset-freeze instruments. Among the most extensive measures are those targeting the financial sector: 94 banks and financial institutions, including Moscow Exchange, have been added to the asset-freeze lists, and from 13 August 2026, 33 additional Russian credit and financial institutions become subject to transaction bans. The financial reach extends beyond Russia: transaction bans also apply from that date to Eco-Islamic Bank in Kyrgyzstan, Chinggis Khaan Bank in Mongolia, Sberbank India, and India VTB. A new mechanism permits country-wide transaction bans on crypto service providers in third countries that persistently fail to prevent sanctions circumvention. The A7 cross-border payments network and its A7A5 stablecoin infrastructure, together with A7 Nigeria, A7 Africa, and PilotFinance Ltd, become subject to transaction bans from 13 August 2026, followed by 11 additional crypto-asset and payment-service platforms from 23 August 2026. On energy, 18 oil sector entities and one individual have been added to asset-freeze measures, and a new framework permits transaction bans on refineries processing Russian-origin oil. The sole initial listing under that framework is Kulevi Oil Refinery in Georgia, with a ban due to apply from 25 January 2027. A further 41 vessels have been added to vessel-specific measures, with port-access and maritime-service restrictions, and the listing criteria now extend to vessels providing bunkering or tug services to already-listed vessels. The package also designates , Director General of JSC Russian Railways.