On 16 December, the European Union imposed the 15th package of sanctions against Russia, aimed at combating the "shadow fleet" and weakening the Russian military-industrial complex. The new package imposes restrictions on 54 individuals and 30 legal entities.
Among them are two companies that NAKO had put on the EU sanctions list — the Kaluga Radio Engineering Research Institute and the Scientific and Production Corporation "Precision Instrumentation Systems" (SPP). The Kaluga Institute produces Khibiny electronic warfare systems for Russian military aviation. The SPP Corporation produces aeronautical systems for fighter jets, notably the SU-27, and attack helicopters, such as the KA-52. Several other companies included in the 15th package were mentioned by NAKO experts in their materials on Western components in Russian weapons and sanctions evasion.
The sanctions include 52 vessels of the "shadow fleet," which Russia uses to evade oil price restrictions, transport military equipment, or steal Ukrainian grain. This brings the total number of sanctioned vessels to 79.
32 entities that cooperate with the Russian military-industrial complex have been subject to restrictive measures. These entities help Russia evade sanctions or supply goods and technology for weapons production. Some of these entities are located in third countries: China, India, Iran, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The 15th sanctions package also includes a chemical plant and a civilian airline involved in logistics for the Russian military.
For the first time, full sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, ban on provision of economic resources) were imposed on Chinese companies supplying drone components and microelectronics to Russia.
Individual sanctions were imposed on:
- the Russian military unit responsible for the missile attack on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital;
- top managers of leading Russian energy companies;
- persons involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children, spreading propaganda and evading sanctions;
- two DPRK officials.
The EU adopted its 14th sanctions package in June. It included three companies that NAKO had submitted to the sanctions list.