Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1079 of 11 May 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its Member States
Date: 2026-05-11
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, computer crime, data protection, economic sanctions, information security, information system, information warfare, international sanctions, legal person, natural person




L_202601079EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/1079


12.5.2026







            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2026/1079
         
of 11 May 2026
         
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)


Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 applies until 18 May 2028.












(3)


On the basis of a review of the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/797, the application of the measures set out in Articles 4 and 5 of that Decision as regards the natural and legal persons, entities, and bodies listed in that Annex should be extended until 18 May 2027. Furthermore, the reasons for including four persons and one entity in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures should be updated.












(4)


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





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 is amended as follows:






(1)


Article 10 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 10
This Decision shall apply until 18 May 2028 and shall be kept under constant review. The measures set out in Articles 4 and 5 shall apply as regards the natural and legal persons, entities and bodies listed in the Annex until 18 May 2027.’
;









(2)


the Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.






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




Done at Brussels, 11 May 2026.


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
The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2019/797 is amended as follows:






(1)


under the heading ‘A. Natural Persons’, entries 1, 2, 13 and 14 are replaced by the following corresponding entries:









 


Name


Identifying information


Reasons


Date of listing




‘1.


GAO Qiang


Date of birth: 4 October 1983
Place of birth: Shandong Province, China
Address: Room 1102, Guanfu Mansion, 46 Xinkai Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, China
Nationality: Chinese
Gender: male


Gao Qiang is linked to the “APT10” (“Advanced Persistent Threat 10”) umbrella (a.k.a. “Red Apollo”, “CVNX”, “Stone Panda”, “MenuPass” and “Potassium”), and has been involved in “Operation Cloud Hopper”, a series of cyber-attacks with a significant effect originating from outside the Union and constituting an external threat to the Union or its Member States and of cyber-attacks with a significant effect against third States.
“Operation Cloud Hopper” has targeted information systems of multinational companies in six continents, including companies located in the Union, and gained unauthorised access to commercially sensitive data, resulting in significant economic loss.
Gao Qiang is associated with APT10 command and control infrastructure. Moreover, Huaying Haitai, a company used by APT10, and designated for providing support to and facilitating “Operation Cloud Hopper”, employed Gao Qiang. He is also associated with Zhang Shilong, who is linked to APT10 and who has also been employed by Huaying Haitai.


30.7.2020




2.


ZHANG Shilong


Date of birth: 10 September 1981
Place of birth: China
Address: Hedong, Yuyang Road No 121, Tianjin, China
Nationality: Chinese
Gender: male


Zhang Shilong is linked to the “APT10” (“Advanced Persistent Threat 10”) umbrella (a.k.a. “Red Apollo”, “CVNX”, “Stone Panda”, “MenuPass” and “Potassium”), and has been involved in “Operation Cloud Hopper”, a series of cyber-attacks with a significant effect originating from outside the Union and constituting an external threat to the Union or its Member States and of cyber-attacks with a significant effect against third States.
“Operation Cloud Hopper” has targeted information systems of multinational companies in six continents, including companies located in the Union, and gained unauthorised access to commercially sensitive data, resulting in significant economic loss.
Zhang Shilong is associated with APT10, including through the malware he developed and tested in connection with the cyber-attacks carried out by APT10.
Moreover, Huaying Haitai, a company used by APT10, and designated for providing support to and facilitating “Operation Cloud Hopper”, employed Zhang Shilong.
He is associated with Gao Qiang, who is linked to APT10 and who has also been employed by Huaying Haitai.


30.7.2020




13.


Mikhail Mikhailovich TSAREV


Михаил Михайлович ЦАРЕВ
Date of birth: 20.4.1989
Place of birth: Serpukhov, Russian Federation
Nationality: Russian
Address: Serpukhov
Gender: male


Mikhail Mikhailovich Tsarev took part in cyberattacks with a significant effect, which constitute an external threat to EU Member States.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Tsarev, also known by the online monikers “Mango”, “Alexander Grachev”, “Super Misha”, “Ivanov Mixail”, “Misha Krutysha”, and “Nikita Andreevich Tsarev” is a key-player in the deployment of the “Conti” and “Trickbot” malware programs and is involved in the Russia-based threat group “Wizard Spider”. Wizard Spider continues to evolve and intensify its operations.
The Conti and Trickbot malware programs were created and developed by Wizard Spider. Wizard Spider has conducted ransomware campaigns in a variety of sectors, including essential services such as health and banking.
The group has infected computers worldwide and their malware has been developed into a highly modular malware suite. Campaigns by Wizard Spider, using malware such as Conti, “Ryuk” TrickBot or Black Basta, are responsible for substantial economic damage in the European Union.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Tsarev is therefore involved in cyberattacks with a significant effect, which constitute an external threat to the Union or its Member States.


24.6.2024




14.


Maksim Sergeevich GALOCHKIN


Максим Сергеевич ГАЛОЧКИН
Date of birth: 19.5.1982
Place of birth: Abakan, Russian Federation
Nationality: Russian
Gender: male


Maksim Galochkin took part in cyberattacks with a significant effect, which constitute an external threat to EU Member States.
Maksim Galochkin is also known by the online monikers “Benalen”, “Bentley”, “Volhvb”, “volhvb”, “manuel”, “Max17” and “Crypt”. Galochkin is a key player in the deployment of the “Conti” and “Trickbot” malware programs and is involved in the Russia-based threat group “Wizard Spider”. He has led a group of testers, with responsibilities for the development, supervision, and implementation of tests for the TrickBot malware program, created and deployed by Wizard Spider. Wizard Spider continues to evolve and intensify its operations.
Wizard Spider has conducted ransomware campaigns in a variety of sectors, including essential services such as health and banking. The group has infected computers worldwide and their malware has been developed into a highly modular malware suite. Campaigns by Wizard Spider, using malware such as Conti, “Ryuk” TrickBot or Black Basta, are responsible for substantial economic damage in the European Union.
Maksim Galochkin is therefore involved in cyberattacks with a significant effect, which constitute an external threat to the Union or its Member States.


24.6.2024’;














(2)


under the heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies’, entry 1 is replaced by the following:









 


Name


Identifying information


Reasons


Date of listing




‘1.


Tianjin Huaying Haitai Science and Technology Development Co. Ltd (Huaying Haitai)


a.k.a.: Haitai Technology Development Co. Ltd
Location: Tianjin, China


Huaying Haitai provided financial, technical or material support for and facilitated “Operation Cloud Hopper”, a series of cyber-attacks with a significant effect originating from outside the Union and constituting an external threat to the Union or its Member States and of cyber-attacks with a significant effect against third States.
“Operation Cloud Hopper” has targeted information systems of multinational companies in six continents, including companies located in the Union, and gained unauthorised access to commercially sensitive data, resulting in significant economic loss.
The actor publicly known as “APT10” (“Advanced Persistent Threat 10”) (a.k.a. “Red Apollo”, “CVNX”, “Stone Panda”, “MenuPass” and “Potassium”) carried out “Operation Cloud Hopper”.
Huaying Haitai can be linked to APT10. Moreover, Huaying Haitai employed Gao Qiang and Zhang Shilong, who are both designated in connection with “Operation Cloud Hopper”. Huaying Haitai is therefore also associated with Gao Qiang and Zhang Shilong.


30.7.2020’.











ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1079/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)