On 23 April 2026, the European Union adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The new package targets in particular revenues from the energy sector, trade and financial services, including crypto-assets.
The main measures include, in particular:
- expanding the sanctions lists by adding 120 further individual listings, covering both legal and natural persons;
- omezení ruských příjmů z energetického sektoru
- extending the ban on access to ports and the ban on providing selected services related to maritime transport to additional vessels, including tankers from non-EU countries that are part of the shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism and supporting Russia’s energy sector, or transporting military equipment for Russia or stolen Ukrainian grain;
- introducing mandatory due diligence in connection with the sale of tankers in order to prevent the expansion of Russia’s shadow fleet;
- restricting financial services and crypto-assets by
- prohibiting transactions with 20 Russian banks and four financial institutions in third countries;
- prohibiting transactions in cryptocurrencies, including, for example, RUBx, and prohibiting support for the development of the digital rouble;
- stricter export restrictions against 60 new entities, some of which are located outside Russia, for example in China, Türkiye or the United Arab Emirates;
- a ban on the export of any computer numerical control machinery or radios to Kyrgyzstan;
- a further expansion of export bans, including to laboratory glassware, lubricants, chemicals, steel products, industrial tractors and other goods.
At the same time, the European Union is preparing another, more extensive, 21st package of sanctions.
Summer Digital Legal Update 2026 here.