The European Council has introduced a new sanctions framework designed to combat Russia's escalating hybrid warfare tactics against EU member states. The framework allows the EU to target individuals and entities that engage in activities sanctioned by the Russian government.
The expanded framework allows the EU to address a wide array of hybrid threats, including interference in electoral processes, attacks on democratic institutions, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and cyber operations. It also covers the dissemination of coordinated disinformation campaigns and foreign information manipulation, along with the instrumentalization of migrants in a bid to destabilize the region.
Under the new framework, those designated will be subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies will be forbidden from making funds available to them. In addition, natural persons will also be subject to a travel ban, which will prevent them from entering or transiting through EU territories.