The European Union (EU) has extended the sanctions imposed on Russia over the attack on Ukraine until January 31, 2023. This was announced by the Council of the EU.

“Today, the Council decided to extend for six months, until January 31, 2023, restrictive measures against certain sectors of the economy of the Russian Federation. These sanctions, first introduced in 2014 in response to Russian actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, have been significantly expanded since February 2022 in light of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine.

The first sanctions against Russia were introduced in 2014 in connection with the annexation of Crimea. In particular, they provide for a ban on the import and export of goods from the peninsula to Europe and back, on the entry of European cruise liners to the ports of Crimea and the provision of other tourist services, on infrastructure and financial investments. On June 20, the EU Council extended their validity until June 23, 2023.

In total, the EU has introduced seven packages of sanctions against Russia. The latter was directed against 57 people and companies. Among them are Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, former Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika, actors Sergei Bezrukov and Vladimir Mashkov, Sberbank, the Night Wolves biker club and others.