E.U. adopts 16th sanctions package against Russia, banning gaming console exports, blocking pro-state media, and disconnecting 13 banks from SWIFT

The European Council has approved its 16th package of sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a statement on the Council’s website.

The new measures target 48 individuals and 35 entities accused of “undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

The E.U. also imposed restrictions on 74 vessels that it classifies as part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

Additionally, 13 Russian banks will be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking system, though their names were not disclosed. For the first time, the E.U. has also banned financial transactions involving credit and financial institutions outside Russia that use the Russian Central Bank’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS).

The sanctions extend to eight Russian media outlets, including Lenta.ru and Zvezda TV, which will lose their broadcasting licenses in the E.U. The Council said these outlets had “been essential and instrumental in bringing forward and supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and for the destabilization of its neighboring countries and of the E.U.”

The package also expands restrictions on exports of goods that support the development of Russia’s defense industry.

“The list now includes items used in the “development and production of Russia’s military systems, such as: chemical precursors to Chloropicrin and other riot control agents, software related to computer numerical control (CNC) machines, chromium compounds and controllers used to guide Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),” the statement said.

The ban on controllers used for drones was previously reported to include gaming consoles, which, according to E.U. foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, can be repurposed for drone operation.

The new restrictions also cover exports of goods and technologies used in oil and gas exploration, including software “related to oil and gas exploration, in order to further restrict Russia’s exploration and production capacities.”