For more than two years of full-scale war, the international community has made significant efforts to increase pressure on Russia through large-scale sanctions. These steps were aimed at undermining the economic foundations of aggression and limiting the Kremlin’s military capabilities. On the thousandth day of this war, one can note both significant successes and serious shortcomings that need to be eliminated in order to maintain an effective sanctions policy.
Among the key achievements of sanctions pressure, the EU oil embargo should be highlighted. It has become one of the most important tools for reducing Russian budget revenues. However, the dependence of European countries on pipeline oil still creates gaps that Russia actively uses.
Economic pressure on Russia has also become noticeable, in particular, due to a significant decrease in revenues from the oil and gas sector. In 2023, oil exports decreased by 20%, and budget revenues from oil and gas by 24%. This, together with the general deterioration of the economic situation, has led to rising inflation and a crisis in strategic industries such as aircraft manufacturing, mechanical engineering and woodworking.
The introduction of sanctions on access to critical components has complicated the production of military equipment in the Russian Federation. To some extent, this has limited the Russian military-industrial complex in the production of missiles, drones and other types of weapons and equipment. However, the challenges of global export control still allow the import of high-tech components through third countries.
Individual sanctions against key figures in the Russian government, including propagandists, oligarchs and high-ranking officials, have deprived them of access to Western assets, increasing pressure on the elites.
The purpose of this document is to collect and update the recommendations of Ukrainian civil society – in particular those organizations that are members of the Public Council on Sanctions – on priorities for partner countries. So that partners eliminate gaps in their sanctions policy and export control measures.
We also want to note the great contribution to the development of sanctions policy of the international community and other organizations that help shape new restrictions against Russia with their research and investigations. This includes the B4Ukraine coalition of civil society organizations.
The Public Council on Sanctions was created to coordinate the work of government representatives and civil society for joint advocacy, implementation and updating of restrictions against Russia and its partners and unites the following organizations: the National Interests Protection Network “ANTS”, Black Sea News and the Institute for Black Sea Strategic Studies, DiXi Group, Institute of Legislative Ideas, ICUV (International Center for Ukrainian Victory), KSE Institute, OSINT agency Molfar, Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESC), Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”, StateWatch/TrapAggressor, NGO “Ukrainian Analytical Center U8”, Razom We Stand.
The recommendations were consolidated by the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) within the framework of a project with financial support from the “Sectoral Support Initiative for Civil Society of Ukraine”. The content of the recommendations is the sole responsibility of the authoring organizations and does not necessarily reflect the views of the “Sectoral Support Initiative for Civil Society of Ukraine”.
