EU ambassadors are expected to approve 1,650 new designations against Russia

Ambassadors of the European Union member states are expected to approve approximately 1,650 new designations on Wednesday under the sanctions regime against Russia, most of them targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex. The package would represent the largest set of individual sanctions adopted by the EU since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The proposal was submitted by the European External Action Service. Of the total new designations, approximately 1,570 target individuals and entities involved in Russia’s defense industry, more than half of them linked to missile production, according to European diplomats cited by Reuters.

After approval by the ambassadors, the lists will be sent to the EU foreign ministers, who are expected to cast the final vote next Monday. The bloc currently has approximately 3,000 designations under its sanctions regime against Russia.

The measures include travel bans in the EU, asset freezes, and bans on transactions with the targeted individuals and entities. The remaining new designations concern other sanctions frameworks, including European restrictions on North Korea. The last combined package, the 21st, was adopted in July.