EU preparing 15th sanctions package against Russia

The EU is readying its 15th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting foreign-made components found in Russian weaponry, the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in Kyiv on Nov. 9, Report informs via Kyiv Independent.

"We have to strengthen anti-sanctions circumvention measures because Russia cannot produce (weaponry) without imported parts, chips and other components," Borrell said at a news conference alongside Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "We should use sanctions to isolate Russia's industrial capabilities from imports from other countries."

The European bloc has already adopted 14 packages in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, aiming to undermine Moscow's economic output and the ability to sustain the war. The most recent package, which passed on June 20, agreed to the first ever sanctions placed on Russia's gas industry.

Borrell's comments come as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to urge Western allies to apply more sanctions against the providers of components used predominantly in Russian drones.

Russia has increased its drone attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent months, with Zelensky reporting over 2,000 Russian Shahed-type drones launched at Ukraine in October.