On 23 April 2026, the European Union adopted its 20th and perhaps most consequential sanctions package against Russia. The 20th Package includes the designation of Russian energy companies, vessels, managers, ports, controls on the sale of tankers, importantly a ban on the provision of services supporting the trade of Russian LNG, a ‘legal basis for a full maritime services ban’ and a mechanism to allow the compliant scrappage of sanctioned tonnage, have also been introduced.

The EU added 46 additional tankers linked to the transport of Russian oil outside the Price Cap, bringing the total number of EU listed ‘shadow-fleet’ vessels to over 630. Eleven vessels were delisted as an consequence of evidence of a return to G7 compliance.

The package has also targeted the wider ecosystem sighted as enabling shadow fleet operations. This includes listings of shipmanagers operating from third countries, as well as a maritime insurer associated with facilitating non-compliant oil movements. Furthermore, the EU formally listed specific ports, including Murmansk and Tuapse, and for the first time a third-country port facility, for their role in sanctions circumvention linked to Russian oil exports.

Significant new controls were introduced on tanker sales from the EU. Sellers must now apply enhanced due diligence, notify competent authorities of sales, and include a mandatory “no Russia” clause in contracts, which must cascade through any onward resale. The package also introduces a shadow-fleet scrapping mechanism, designed to facilitate the decommissioning or recycling of sanctioned vessels as a compliant ‘off ramp’ from the ‘shadow fleet’.

The package introduced targeted restrictions on services supporting Russian LNG exports, explicitly covering both LNG carriers and icebreakers. With immediate effect, EU persons are prohibited from providing technical assistance, maintenance, financing, brokering or related maritime services to Russian-flagged, Russian-owned or Russian-managed LNG carriers and icebreakers. From 1 January 2027, the prohibition extends to any LNG tanker or icebreaker operating in or for use in Russia, regardless of flag or ownership. In parallel, EU operators must cease providing LNG terminal services to Russian-controlled entities by that date. It is important to note, that these measures do not ban LNG cargoes outright but are intended to progressively degrade Russia’s LNG and Arctic export capability.

Finally, the EU established the legal basis for a future full maritime services ban covering the transport of Russian crude oil and petroleum products. While not yet implemented, the measure signals coordinated intent with the G7 and price-cap coalition and represents a potential escalation affecting chartering, broking, insuring and technical support of Russian oil trades.

Announcing the package, Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated:

“Today we have finally broken the deadlock. On top of the €90-billion loan for Ukraine, we have also adopted the 20th sanctions package. The EU will provide Ukraine with what it needs to hold its ground while we inhibit those enabling Russia’s illegal aggression.”

A link to the press release announcing the package can be found here.

 

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