Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/171 of 27 January 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its Member States
Date: 2025-01-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Estonia, computer crime, confidentiality, data protection, economic sanctions, information security, information warfare, international sanctions, natural person








L_202500171EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/171


27.1.2025







            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/171
         
of 27 January 2025
         
amending Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its Member States


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:







(1)


On 17 May 2019, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 (1).












(2)


Targeted restrictive measures against cyber-attacks with a significant effect which constitute an external threat to the Union or its Member States are one of the measures included in the Union’s framework for a joint diplomatic response to malicious cyber activities, namely the Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox, and are a vital instrument to prevent, deter, discourage and respond to such activities.












(3)


Malicious cyber activities against critical infrastructure or essential services, including through the use of ransomware and wipers, the targeting of supply chains and cyber-espionage, including intellectual property theft activities, are increasing in number, frequency and sophistication. With their disruptive and destructive effects, those activities pose a systemic threat to the Union’s security, economy and democracy and to society at large.












(4)


In 2020, cyber-attacks with a significant effect were carried out against Estonia. Cyber-attacks targeting the computer systems of multiple institutions were conducted with the aim of using the data to threaten the security of Estonia. Those cyber-attacks concerned the storage of classified information.












(5)


As part of the sustained, tailored and coordinated Union action against persistent cyber threat actors, three natural persons should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/797. Those persons are responsible for, or involved in, cyber-attacks with a significant effect which constitute an external threat to the Union or its Member States.












(6)


Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




Done at Brussels, 27 January 2025.


For the Council


The President

K. KALLAS
            





(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 of 17 May 2019 concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its Member States (OJ L 129 I, 17.5.2019, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2019/797/oj).




ANNEX
In the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/797, the following entries are added under the heading ‘A. Natural persons’:










 


Name


Identifying information


Reasons


Date of listing




‘15.


Nikolay Alexandrovich KORCHAGIN


Николай Александрович Корчагин
Date of birth: 16.9.1997
Nationality: Russian
Gender: male
Associated entity: Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation


Nikolay Korchagin is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks with a significant effect by conducting intelligence activities directed against Estonia and gaining access to a computer system illegally.
Nikolay Korchagin is an officer of military unit 29155 of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). In that role, he is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks against computer systems with the aim of collecting data from the data systems of multiple institutions, which independently or in combination, give an overview of the cyber security policy of Estonia, the cyber capabilities of the state, sensitive personal data and other sensitive data, with the aim of using the data to threaten the security of Estonia. The attacks therefore concern the storage of classified information. The attacks concerned allies and partners of Estonia.
Therefore, Nikolay Korchagin is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks with a significant effect which constitute an external threat to a Member State.


27.1.2025




16.


Vitaly SHEVCHENKO


Виталий Шевченко
Date of birth: 1.9.1997
Nationality: Russian
Gender: male
Associated entity: Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation


Vitaly Shevchenko is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks with a significant effect by conducting intelligence activities directed against Estonia and gaining access to a computer system illegally.
Vitaly Shevchenko is an officer of military unit 29155 of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). In that role, he is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks against computer systems with the aim of collecting data from the data systems of multiple institutions, which independently or in combination, give an overview of the cyber security policy of Estonia, the cyber capabilities of the state, sensitive personal data and other sensitive data, with the aim of using the data to threaten the security of Estonia. The attacks therefore concern the storage of classified information. The attacks concerned allies and partners of Estonia.
Therefore, Vitaly Shevchenko is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks with a significant effect which constitute an external threat to a Member State.


27.1.2025




17.


Yuriy Fedorovich DENISOV


Юрий Федорович Денисов
Date of birth: 17.6.1980
Nationality: Russian
Gender: male
Associated entity: Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation


Yuriy Denisov is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks with a significant effect by conducting intelligence activities directed against Estonia and gaining access to a computer system illegally.
Yuriy Denisov is an officer of military unit 29155 of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). In that role, he is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks against computer systems with the aim of collecting data from the data systems of multiple institutions, which independently or in combination, give an overview of the cyber security policy of Estonia, the cyber capabilities of the state, sensitive personal data and other sensitive data, with the aim of using the data to threaten the security of Estonia. The attacks therefore concern the storage of classified information. The attacks concerned allies and partners of Estonia.
Therefore, Yuriy Denisov is involved in and responsible for cyber-attacks with a significant effect which constitute an external threat to a Member State.


27.1.2025’.








ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/171/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)