BRUSSELS — The European Union on Tuesday imposed sweeping new sanctions on 21 individuals and six entities tied to Russia’s global hybrid influence operations — targeting alleged Russian military intelligence operatives linked to interference in Estonia’s democracy and Kremlin-backed media groups spreading propaganda across Africa.
The latest sanctions package directly names Alik Khuchbarov and Ilya Bocharov, identified by EU officials as operatives of Russia’s GRU military intelligence service, for their role in “undermining the democratic political process in Estonia.”
“These individuals are actively involved in destabilising activities against member states,” the Council of the EU said in a statement, citing a rising threat of Russian interference in the Baltics.
Estonia has been increasingly vocal about GPS jamming and cyber sabotage affecting civil aviation and infrastructure in the region. Tuesday’s sanctions also list Russia’s General Radio Frequency Center (GRFC) and its acting director Ruslan Nesterenko for orchestrating “electronic warfare,” including GPS spoofing and signal jamming in the Baltic states.
In a simultaneous move, the EU turned its attention to Africa, listing several media figures and organizations accused of amplifying pro-Kremlin narratives and anti-Western disinformation on the continent.
Among those sanctioned are Viktor Lukovenko, head of the so-called “African Initiative,” a Kremlin-linked media outlet, and Justin Blaise Tagouh, CEO of International Africa Media. The Council accuses them of running coordinated information campaigns “spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation in African countries.”
The EU also listed Mikhaïl Prudnikov and Sylvain Afoua, the latter known for founding the “Black African Defense League,” a group dissolved by French authorities in 2021 for promoting hate speech and inciting violence.
“The Council condemns the systematic, international Russian campaign of media manipulation and distortion of facts,” the press release said, warning of Kremlin efforts to undermine both neighboring EU countries and partners in Africa.
In addition to individual sanctions, the Council broadened the EU’s legal framework to target ships, aircraft, crypto-assets, and digital infrastructure used to carry out or finance hybrid threats.
The new sanctions regime allows the suspension of broadcasting licenses for Russian state-controlled media operating within the EU — though it does not prevent their journalists from conducting research or interviews on EU soil.
Those sanctioned face asset freezes and EU-wide travel bans. European businesses and citizens are barred from providing funds or services to any of the listed entities.
“These restrictive measures are a clear signal of our resolve,” the Council said. “A tailored and sustained approach, proportionate to the ongoing threat, is necessary.”
The full list of designations was published Tuesday in the Official Journal of the EU.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
