Daily Compliance Brief — EU Adopts 16th Russia Sanctions Package

February 24, 2026

Signal

The European Union has adopted its 16th package of restrictive measures in response to Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine. The package expands asset freeze designations and introduces additional trade and circumvention-related restrictions targeting specific sectors and third-country facilitation risks.

The measures reflect continued EU focus on closing evasion pathways, including enhanced scrutiny of intermediary jurisdictions and tightened controls on dual-use and advanced technology exports. The package takes effect following publication in the Official Journal.

Why it matters

For compliance teams, the expanded designation lists require immediate screening updates across customers, counterparties, and beneficial owners, including reassessment of indirect exposure through complex ownership structures.

Trade finance and export control functions should review product classifications, routing risks, and counterparty due diligence processes to address heightened circumvention risk. Governance frameworks must ensure timely list ingestion, documented escalation, and consistent alignment between sanctions and trade control controls.