BRUSSELS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Monday approved new sanctions against individuals and entities it accuses of supporting Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, as well as separate sanctions targeting those related to alleged Russian hybrid operations.
The Council of the EU added five individuals and four entities linked directly or indirectly to major Russian state-owned oil firms Rosneft and Lukoil, according to a statement.
The statement said those individuals control vessels transporting crude oil or petroleum products originating in, or exported from, Russia and accused them of concealing the oil's true origin.
The targeted entities are shipping companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Russia that own or manage tankers already hit by restrictive measures by the EU or other countries for involvement in the shadow fleet, the Council said.
Separately, the Council also added 12 individuals and two entities for sanctions, citing alleged "foreign information manipulation and interference and malicious cyber activities" against the EU, its member states and partners.
Speaking to reporters on arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the measures aim to "deprive Russia of the means to fund this war."
Under the EU's sanctions regime related to Ukraine, listings now exceed 2,600 individuals and entities. A separate framework targeting destabilizing activities covers a further 59 individuals and 17 entities. ■
