EU Adopts 21st Sanctions Package Against Russia, Banning 14 Crypto Platforms and Targeting Sanctions-Evasion Networks

The European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, 2026, marking its largest round of restrictions in four years. The package blacklists 218 entities and individuals, freezes assets of 94 banks, and disconnects 33 financial institutions from SWIFT. Crucially, the measures target Russia's sanctions-evasion networks by banning 14 cryptocurrency platforms, including HTX, and introducing a mechanism for full third-country crypto service bans. The package also freezes the Russian oil price cap at $44.10 per barrel, targets long-range drone supply chains, and permits shadow fleet asset seizures, while granting a one-year LNG transfer exemption pushed by Greece.

EU sanctions package adoption

• ▪The European Union's 21st sanctions package includes asset freezes, travel bans, and transaction restrictions to limit Russia's trade, financing, and energy flows.
• ▪The European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, 2026, targeting 218 individuals and entities.

Cryptocurrency platform bans

• ▪The European Union introduced a mechanism allowing a full transaction ban on third-country crypto-asset services if they help Russia evade sanctions.
• ▪The European Union banned transactions with 14 cryptocurrency platforms, including HTX, Rapira, Aifory Pro, ABCeX, WhiteBird, NoOnecrypto, Tradex, Monease, BitPapa, Exnode, EXMO, and PilotFinance.
• ▪The Russia-linked A7 crypto network and its stablecoin A7A5 have processed approximately $120 billion to facilitate sanctions evasion.

Financial sector restrictions

• ▪The European Union imposed asset freezes on 94 Russian financial institutions and added Moscow's stock exchange to the sanctions list.
• ▪The European Union extended transaction bans to 33 additional Russian credit and financial institutions, disconnecting them from the SWIFT messaging system.

Shadow fleet asset seizures

• ▪The European Union introduced a provision allowing member states to board and confiscate assets on Russian shadow fleet vessels.
• ▪The European Union added 41 shadow fleet vessels to its sanctions list and froze the Russian oil price cap at $44.10 per barrel for 12 months.

Military drone supply networks

• ▪The European Union sanctioned 56 entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, including 37 directly involved in long-range drone networks.
• ▪The European Union added 51 new entities from countries including China, India, and the United Arab Emirates to its dual-use export restriction list.

Greek LNG exemptions

• ▪The European Union granted a one-year exemption allowing operators to transfer Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries under contracts signed before February 24, 2022.
• ▪Greece secured the liquefied natural gas transfer exemption to protect its shipping industry and prevent the trade route from shifting to non-European competitors.