Russian hybrid threats: Council sanctions twelve individuals and two entities over information manipulation and cyber attacks 12:15 The Council adopted restrictive measures[...]

The Council today decided to adopt restrictive measures against an additional twelve individuals and two entities, in light of Russia's continued hybrid activities, including Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and malicious cyber activities against the EU and its member states and partners.

The Council is listing today notable foreign-policy analysts embedded in institutions, think-tanks and universities closely linked to or affiliated with the Kremlin's policy and messaging apparatus, and influencers promoting pro-Russian propaganda and conspiracy theories on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as anti-Ukraine and anti-NATO narratives. Some of these are Western European former military or police officers.

The Council is also sanctioning the International Russophile Movement for amplifying destabilising narratives globally on behalf of the Russian government, and the 142^nd Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion. The latter is based in Kaliningrad and is responsible for using technology to disorganise any system of shortwave communication, conducting electronic warfare exercises, linked to the recent cases of GPS signal failures experienced by several EU member states.

Lastly, today's listings include members of the Russian Military Intelligence Agency GRU, unit 29155, as well as of cyber threat group Cadet Blizzard. They took part in cyber-attacks against government organisations in Ukraine and targeted EU member states and NATO Allies to gain sensitive information and aiming to destabilise their political situation.

With today's decision, restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities now apply to total 59 individuals and 17 entities. Those listed are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. Natural persons also face a travel ban that prohibits them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

On 8 October 2024, the Council adopted a framework of restrictive measures in response to Russia's destabilising actions. The sanctions regime targets those engaged in actions and policies by the government of the Russian Federation, which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, stability, independence and integrity. The sanctions regime targets also those responsible for hybrid activities against third countries and international organisations. The current sanctions regime is in place until 9 October 2026 and it is reviewed on a yearly basis.

In May 2025, the EU broadened the scope of the restrictive measures framework to allow the targeting of tangible assets linked to Russia's destabilising activities, financial backers of destabilising activities, and to allow for the suspension of the broadcasting licences of Russian media outlets involved in disinformation.

On 18 July 2025, a statement of the High Representative on behalf of the EU strongly condemned persistent malicious activities posed by Russia, which form part of broader, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its member states and its partners. The High Representative stressed that Russian malicious activities have further escalated since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine and are highly likely to persist in the foreseeable future.

The EU and its member states will continue to draw on the full range of tools available to protect, prevent, deter from and respond to such malicious behaviour.

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2572 of 15 December 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities (including the names of persons and entities sanctioned today)
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2568 of 15 December 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities (including the names of persons and entities sanctioned today)
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 of 8 October 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities (consolidated text dated 7 October 2025)
• Hybrid threats / Russia: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU condemning Russia's persistent hybrid campaigns against the EU, its Member States and partners (press release, 18 July 2025)
• EU sanctions against Russia (background information)