EU Envoys Approve 1,646 New Russia Sanctions Listings Focused on Missile Production

European Union envoys approved 1,646 new sanctions listings against Russia on Wednesday, with most of the measures aimed at the country’s military industry, according to three EU diplomats cited by Reuters.

More than half of the newly listed people and entities are involved in making Russian ballistic missiles, including the 9M723 Iskander-M, according to Reuters. The listings also cover groups tied to missile testing and research, solid fuel and rocket engine production, and makers of specialized textiles and carbon and synthetic fibers used in missile systems, one diplomat told Reuters.

Missile supply chains, drones and occupied territories

The package extends beyond missile makers. Reuters reported that it includes drone manufacturers, shipyards that service submarines and 77 Russian politicians who ran for seats in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. The bloc also added seven North Korean entities and individuals linked to Moscow’s war effort, reflecting EU concern about closer Russia-North Korea ties, according to Reuters.

The timing matters on the battlefield. Reuters reported that Ukraine has nearly exhausted its stock of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors as American resources shift toward the Gulf, while Russia has increased ballistic missile strikes. The Iskander-M can only be intercepted by Patriot systems, according to Reuters, a gap the report linked to Ukraine’s recent vulnerability.

The listings are expected to be formally adopted when EU foreign ministers meet on Monday, according to Reuters. The move comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow would not resume diesel exports, currently banned until the end of October, until sanctions are lifted, according to Reuters.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters.