The European Council announced on December 16 that the EU had imposed sanctions for the first time in response to “Russian hybrid threats” and designated 16 individuals and 3 entities “responsible for Russia’s destabilizing behavior abroad.”
The measures target those whose “actions and policies of the Russian Federation undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, its security, stability, independence and integrity, as well as those of international organizations and third countries.” Through a variety of hybrid activities, including the use of coordinated message manipulation and disruption.
The designations include GRU Unit 29155, a clandestine unit within Russia’s military intelligence service that the Security Council said is known for assassinations and destabilizing activities, and the pan-African business and investment group, described as “a group that conducts pro-government Russian disinformation network.” covert influence operations, particularly in the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso.”
The committee also targeted the “Doppelganger” campaign, which is described as a “Russian-led digital disinformation campaign designed to manipulate information and spread disinformation in support of Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine and to target EU member states.”
Those designated will be subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies will be banned from providing funds to them. These people will also face travel bans, which will prevent them from entering or transiting EU territory.
These measures are implemented under a new sanctions framework established in October 2024. The European Council previously “strongly condemned the various hybrid activities that are emerging and targeting the EU, its Member States and partners” in 2024 in its conclusions on June 27.
First list of responses to destabilizing activities against EU Member States and partners/?utm_s
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