Key takeaways
UK
Government announces 19 new sanctions designations.
EU
Plans for largest sanctions package so far in the autumn.
Shadow fleet
Nine tankers seized around the EU this year.
UK
On 6 August 2026, the UK’s new Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, announced new sanctions against Russia.
This is the first UK sanctions package since the change of government leadership and confirms the UK’s commitment to maintaining and extending sanctions in response to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The package introduced 19 new sanctions designations, including:
six newly acquired shadow fleet tankers said to be responsible for breaching sanctions
six Russian banks and
four Russian companies importing rare metals critical for producing military equipment.
Since the beginning of 2026, the UK has imposed sanctions on over 500 individuals, entities and ships under its Russia sanctions regime. In total, the UK Government has now sanctioned over 3,400 individuals, entities and vessels.
On 3 August 2026, a research paper was published by the House of Commons Library, outlining what has changed in the sanctions landscape since January 2025 in terms of the UK, EU and US sanctions regimes: see cbp-10342-3.pdf.
Among other things, the briefing highlights the following:
The expansion of sanctions targeting the shadow fleet and third countries said to be enabling sanctions evasion.
Ending dependency on Russian energy by stopping the import of Russian oil and gas by 2027, with the UK phasing in an import on Russian-origin oil products refined in third countries, including diesel and jet fuel, culminating in a total ban by 1 January 2027.
Intended future legislation to target sanctions evasion through third countries.
The ongoing divisions within the EU on the outright forfeiture of Russian frozen state assets currently held by Euroclear.
As of 17 August 2026, the Russian shadow fleet tanker, SMYRTOS, continues to be detained by the Department of Transport at a port near Weymouth where it is being monitored by British authorities.
The tanker was intercepted and boarded by Royal Marine Commandos in June 2026. Its Captain has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions by directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil. However, 22 out of the 25 original crew members were repatriated in July.
Notwithstanding criticism from President Putin and warnings that if Western countries continue to seize such vessels, Russia will respond in kind, the UK maintains that the SMYRTOS was boarded and detained fully in accordance with international maritime law. Since the beginning of 2026, nine shadow fleet tankers have been seized around the EU.
EU
On 17 August 2026, the EU’s foreign policy chief announced proposals to introduce tougher sanctions against Russia in the autumn, with the aim of increasing the total number of sanctioned individuals and entities by one-third.
No specific date has, however, been set for the introduction of a further sanctions package, which is said to be the largest yet. Additionally, any designation must secure the approval of all 27 EU member states.
It has been suggested that the proposal to bring in further sanctions is due to the fact that the 21st sanctions package, which came into force on 23 July 2026, was watered down in order to obtain unanimous approval from the 27 member states.
A key issue was the exemption required by Greece to continue shipping Russian LNG to non-EU customers after the cut-off date of January 2027. The compromise agreement reached, to allow the package to be passed, was a derogation allowing the transfer of Russian LNG to non-EU customers for contracts concluded before the start of the invasion in February 2022. The provision will be reviewed annually.
Find out more about our Sanctions team here or contact us today to discuss how we can help.
