The thirteenth package of sanctions targeting Russia, adopted on 23 February 2024, contains new measures aimed at addressing attempts to circumvent sanctions. This package amends Regulation (EU) 833/2014 and Regulation (EU) 269/2014 and addresses sensitive military technology, such as key components for drones. The EU has specifically identified 27 legal entities associated with Russia’s military-industrial complex, including those involved in the development and production of drones. Of these 27 companies, 17 are based in Russia and 10 in other countries such as China, Kazakhstan, India, Serbia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. The EU has imposed export restrictions on these companies by adding them to Annex IV of the Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014.

In addition, the package expands the list of advanced technological items, dual-use goods and technology that can be used to advance Russia’s military and technological capabilities. Sanctions now include components used for the development and production of drones, such as electric transformers, static converters, and inductors found in drones, as well as aluminum capacitors, which have military applications.

The EU has also added 194 additional individuals and legal entities to Annex I of Council Regulation (EU) 269/2014, making a total of 2,000 individuals and companies who are now subject to having assets in the EU frozen. The list consists of companies and individuals from the Russian military-industrial complex whom the EU has identified as being involved weapon shipments to Russia and/or engaged in the import of prohibited goods to Russia.

Moreover, the United Kingdom joins Switzerland and Norway as EU partner countries excluded iron and steel imports restrictions and who are not required to provide evidence of the country of origin of the iron and steel in their goods.

An additional EU ban on broadcasting activities 

On 17 May 2024, the European Council suspended broadcasting activities in the European Union by Russian media operators such as Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta, due to their support of the war against Ukraine. According to the Guidance on Sanctions, published by the EU, the term “broadcasting” is now more broadly defined than the term “television broadcasting” used in the Directive 2010/13/EU. The term “broadcasting” in this directive includes transmission, dissemination or distribution of any type of content in the broadest possible meaning, such as long videos, short video extracts, news items, radio or online content, etc., to an audience regardless of the means of transmission, dissemination or distribution.

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