EU Adopts Record Sanctions Expansion Targeting 1.6K Russian Defense Firms and Executives

Oct. 12, 2026 EU European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas. Ezra Acayan / Pool via REUTERS EU foreign ministers on Monday formally adopted the bloc’s largest-ever expansion of its Russia sanctions blacklist, targeting nearly 1,600 people and companies linked to the country’s military-industrial complex. The measures, initially agreed by EU envoys last week, add 826 Russian companies and 743 executives to the blacklist. “Over half address the production chain for the ballistic missiles Russia uses to kill Ukrainian civilians every day,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. The companies supply components for Russian missiles, drones and aircraft, including explosives, ammunition, semiconductors and computers, according to the EU. The bloc said they represent the “core” of the Russian military industry, employing more than a quarter-million people and generating an annual turnover of at least 20 billion euros ($22.3 billion). The EU also sanctioned 74 State Duma lawmakers and three members of Russia’s Central Election Commission over their involvement in parliamentary elections held in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Separately, three people and four entities in North Korea were sanctioned over Pyongyang’s growing military and economic cooperation with Moscow. Those listed face EU asset freezes, while EU citizens and companies are barred from making funds available to them. Sanctioned individuals also face travel bans across the 27-member bloc. The latest additions bring the total number of people and entities under EU sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine to nearly 4,600. Read more about: European Union , Sanctions , Defense Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Peskov’s Wife Challenges EU Sanctions Against Her in Court Tatiana Navka, a former Olympic ice-skating champion, was put on a sanctions list by the EU in June 2022 that targeted people over Russia's invasion... 2 Min read Refusal to Ease Sanctions Shows EU Doesn't Want Peace, Kremlin Says "If European countries don't want to go down this path, it means they don't want to go down the path of peace," the Kremlin's top spokesman said. 2 Min read EU Approves Fresh Sanctions Against Russia on Full-Scale Invasion Anniversary The sanctions blacklist 74 “shadow fleet” ships and restrict Russian aluminum imports, while also barring the sale of gaming consoles. 1 Min read EU Targets Chinese Firms, North Korea in New Sanctions Against Russia Firms in Turkey and India were also included, as the EU increasingly targets third countries for helping Moscow circumvent sanctions. 2 Min read