Restrictive measures in response to the illegal recognition, occupation or annexation by the Russian Federation of certain non-government controlled areas of Ukraine

Overview

On 22 February 2022, the EU strongly condemned the decision of the President of the Russian Federation on 21 February 2022 to recognize the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities and the ensuing decision to send Russian troops into these areas. The EU considers that this as an illegal act further undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence and is a severe breach of international law and international agreements. In view of the situation, on 23 February 2022, the Council of the EU adopted restrictive measures, which prohibit the import into the EU of goods originating in the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine with the exception of goods having been granted a certificate of origin by the Government of Ukraine. In addition, the measures restrict trade in good and technology for use in certain sectors and prohibit services in the sectors of transport, telecommunications, energy or the prospecting, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources, as well as services related to tourism activities in the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine. On 21 September 2022, the Russian Federation decided to further escalate its aggression against Ukraine by supporting the organisation of illegal 'referenda' in the parts of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. By organising those illegal sham ‘referenda’, Russia aimed to change by force the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine, which constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Charter of the United Nations. In view of the grave circumstances, on 6 October 2022, the Council extended the geographical scope of the regime to cover all the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. Derogations and exemptions to the restrictive measures are possible, including the delivery of humanitarian aid. Adopted by: EU. No persons or entities are currently designated under this regime.

Targeted country

Legal bases

• Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and the ordering of Russian armed forces into those areas
• Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and the ordering of Russian armed forces into those areas

Official resources