The EU has approved the 15th package of sanctions against Russia.

On Monday, December 16, the European Union officially approved the 15th package of economic and individual restrictive measures (sanctions) against Russia due to its war against Ukraine. This information was reported on the EU Council's website.

The new package sanctions 54 individuals and 30 organizations, including:

• the military unit responsible for the strike on the children's hospital Okhmatdet in Kyiv;
• leaders in the energy sector;
• individuals involved in the deportation of children and propaganda;
• Russian defense companies and shipping firms;
• and for the first time – Chinese companies supplying components for drones to Russia.

Access to European ports is prohibited for 52 vessels: shadow fleet tankers and transport ships carrying military equipment for Russia or stolen grain from Ukraine.

The EU has imposed export restrictions on 32 companies from China, India, Iran, Serbia, and the UAE for supplying dual-use goods to Russia.

Separate measures are being introduced to protect European companies from unlawful persecution by the Russian state.

Specifically, the EU has enacted a ban on the recognition and enforcement of certain judicial decisions from Russian courts that hinder the initiation or continuation of legal proceedings outside of Russia. Such decisions may lead to unjustly high financial penalties for European companies, which is why the European Union has prohibited their enforcement in Europe.

At the same time, the EU has extended the time for European companies to exit the Russian market, ensuring that this process occurs in an orderly and secure manner for businesses.