Oil tanker linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” catches fire near Sochi after weeks off tracking services

The European Union has agreed to the largest-ever expansion of its sanctions list against Russia, adding 1,646 individuals and entities to the list. These targets include 743 individuals and 826 entities believed to have supported Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The decision was reached by ambassadors in Brussels after several weeks of negotiations and legal review.

The sanctions will include a travel ban, an asset freeze, and a prohibition on funding. The list is expected to be formally approved on Monday when foreign ministers convene in Luxembourg. Member states are eager to finalize the deal to demonstrate solidarity in the face of ongoing hybrid attacks. The EU has already started working on new sanctions in response to incidents like the drone attack at Leipzig Airport.

The decision to remove two oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from the sanctions list last month was controversial. Usmanov's removal was due to a prisoner release facilitated by Azerbaijan, while Fridman's status remains unclear. France advocated for Usmanov's release, but the EU extended the sanctions list for an unprecedented three-year period.

High Representative Kaja Kallas noted that it is unlikely Usmanov and Fridman will be re-added to the list. The EU relies on unanimity for most decisions, but the bloc is considering a new clause to allow decisions by qualified majority voting to avoid frequent vetoes as it prepares to admit new members.