Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/646 of 16 March 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities
Date: 2026-03-16
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Russia, Russo-Ukrainian issue, Ukraine, economic sanctions, international sanctions, natural person, territorial dispute, territorial law








L_202600646EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/646


16.3.2026







            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2026/646
         
of 16 March 2026
         
amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities


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 8 October 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 (1).












(2)


On 18 December 2025, the European Council adopted conclusions in which it strongly condemned all recent hybrid attacks against the Union and its Member States.












(3)


The Union remains unwavering in its condemnation of Russia’s malicious activities directed against the Union, its Member States, international organisations and third countries.












(4)


In view of the gravity of the situation, the Council considers that four natural persons should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643.












(5)


Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 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, 16 March 2026.


For the Council


The President

K. KALLAS
            





(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 of 8 October 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities (OJ L, 2024/2643, 9.10.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2643/oj).




ANNEX
The following entries are added to Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 under the heading ‘A. Natural persons’:










 


Name


Identifying information


Statement of Reasons


Date of listing




‘66.


Sergey Aleksandrovich KLYUCHENKOV
(Russian: Сергей Александрович КЛЮЧЕНКОВ)
a.k.a. Sergey MARDAN; Sergey LELEKA
(Russian: Сергей МАРДАН; Сергей ЛЕЛЕКА)


Function: journalist, radio presenter and TV presenter; employee of “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, host of the radio programme “Evening Divan” and the TV programme “Mardan” on the Soloviev LIVE channel
DOB: 11.7.1969
POB: Varezh, USSR (now Russian Federation)
Nationality: Russian
Gender: male


Sergey Klyuchenkov is a prominent Russian political analyst and propagandist who plays an active role in spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed at justifying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Klyuchenkov supports attacks on Ukraine, including attacks on civilians, and calls for further violence. In addition, Klyuchenkov has called for the “de-Ukrainisation” of occupied territories, including a ban on Ukrainian language, the removal of cultural symbols and violence against supporters of Ukrainian identity. Klyuchenkov calls for the occupation by Russia of Baltic states and suggests retaliatory strikes against countries that support Ukraine, including the USA, Türkiye , Germany, France and the UK.
Therefore, Sergey Klyuchenkov is supporting actions and policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Union and in a third country (Ukraine) through engaging in, directly or indirectly, and supporting the use of information manipulation and interference, and through supporting a violent conflict in a third country (Ukraine).


16.3.2026




67.


Ernest Gedrevich MACKEVICIUS
(Russian: Эрнест Гедревич МАЦКЯВИЧЮС)


Function: journalist and TV presenter; host of the programme “Vesti at 20:00” on the channel “Russia”
DOB: 25.11.1968
POB: Vilnius, Lithuania
Nationality: Lithuanian, Russian
Gender: male


Ernest Mackevicius is the leading news anchor of Russian state television. He is the host and face of the news programme “Vesti at 20:00” on the channel “Russia”.
Mackevicius regularly spreads disinformation and propaganda about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, about Ukraine itself and about Ukrainian armed forces. He consistently presents biased reports on advances of the Russian military and losses or retreats of the Ukrainian army.
He also supports the Russian armed forces and Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. In 2024, he served as a commentator for Putin’s inauguration on the television channel “Rossiya 1”, an entity listed by the Union.
Therefore, Ernest Mackevicius is responsible for, implementing, supporting and benefitting from actions and policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Union and in a third country (Ukraine) through engaging in, directly or indirectly, and supporting the use of information manipulation and interference, and through supporting a violent conflict in a third country (Ukraine).


16.3.2026




68.


Graham Williams PHILLIPS


Function: journalist, blogger
DOB: 26.1.1979
POB: Dundee, United Kingdom
Nationality: British
Gender: male


Graham Phillips is a prominent British propagandist who plays an active role in spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed at justifying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Phillips regularly films content from Russian-occupied areas, including interviews with captured British fighters, and filmed degrading video of the remains of a Ukrainian soldier. He also makes propaganda articles about the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine such as Mariupol and spreads anti-Ukrainian disinformation, referring to the Ukrainian government as “Nazis” and accusing Ukraine of indiscriminate shelling of separatist regions and of prolonging the war. Phillips also received a passport from the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic”.
Therefore, Graham Phillips is supporting actions and policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Union and in a third country (Ukraine) through engaging in, directly or indirectly, and supporting the use of information manipulation and interference, and through supporting a violent conflict in a third country (Ukraine).


16.3.2026




69.


Adrien BOCQUET


Function: media figure
POB: France
Nationality: French, Russian
Gender: male


Adrien Bocquet is a media figure who has repeatedly positioned himself as an amplifier of Kremlin propaganda in Europe and in Russia. Through appearances at symbolic conflict sites, interviews with Russian television, publications on his X account (which has 18 100  followers) and contributions to Kremlin-funded outlets such as International Reporters, he amplifies Kremlin narratives that distort the realities of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including denial of Russian war crimes. His engagement in media productions and public endorsement of Russian narratives facilitates the spread of information manipulation and undermines informed public debate.
Therefore, Adrien Bocquet is supporting, involved in and facilitating actions or policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten stability or security in the Union or in a third country (Ukraine) through planning, directing, engaging in, directly and indirectly, and supporting the use of information manipulation and interference.


16.3.2026’








ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/646/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)