Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1720 of 13 July 2026 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
Date: 2026-07-13
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, economic sanctions, human rights, international sanctions, legal person, natural person








L_202601720EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/1720


13.7.2026







            COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/1720
         
of 13 July 2026
         
implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (1), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,


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

Whereas:







(1)


On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.












(2)


On 8 December 2020, by way of the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Achieving the effective enjoyment of human rights by everyone is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.












(3)


In its conclusions of 23 March 2023, the European Council reiterated that international humanitarian law, including the rules governing the treatment of prisoners of war, must be fully respected and condemned in the strongest possible terms sexual and gender-based violence committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It further emphasised its firm commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.












(4)


In its statement before the United Nations Security Council Arria-formula meeting on ‘Violations of international humanitarian law against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees’ on 13 January 2025, the Union condemned in the strongest terms the torture, ill-treatment and killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees, called for unhindered access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to all detainees, and reiterated the need to ensure accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law.












(5)


In that context, eight persons and one entity should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.












(6)


Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1
Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.


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




This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 July 2026.


For the Council


The President

K. KALLAS
            





(1)  
            OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/1998/oj.




ANNEX
Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 is amended as follows:






(1)


the following entries are added to the list of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies under heading ‘A. Natural persons’:










 


Names (Transliteration into Latin script)


Names


Identifying information


Reasons for listing


Date of listing




‘139.


Alexei Viktorovich KHAVETSKY


Алексей Викторович ХАВЕЦКИЙ
(Russian)


Function: Deputy Head of Security and Operational Work at Penal Colony No. 7 (Pakino, Vladimir Oblast)
DOB: 23.12.1989
POB: Melekhovo, Kovrovsky District, Vladimir Oblast, Russia
Nationality: Russian
Gender: male


Alexei Khavetsky is the Deputy Head of Security and Operational Work at Penal Colony No. 7 (Pakino, Vladimir Oblast) where he has orchestrated and supervised the systematic Mistreatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).
Under his leadership, Ukrainian POWs were subjected to severe physical beatings, electric shocks and intentional starvation. Khavetsky is further responsible for organizing acts of sexual violence and extreme humiliation, including forcing naked prisoners to simulate sexual acts for the entertainment of colony staff. By exercising command over the security operations of the facility, he directly participated in and facilitated pervasive abuse against persons.
Therefore, Alexei Khavetsky is responsible for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.


13.7.2026




140.


Artem Nikolayevich POTAPCHUK


Артем Николаевич ПОТАПЧУК
(Russian)


Function: Major, Assistant to the head of Penal Colony No. 120, senior officer in disciplinary isolation, Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DOB: 6.6.1986
Nationality: Ukrainian
Gender: male
Address: Donetsk oblast, Makeyevka city, Kavkazskaya street, 27, apt. 2
Ukrainian passeport number: series МН No 553834
Tax identification number: 3156801837
Associated entities: Penal Colony No 120 – Olenivka prison


Artem Potapchuk is the Assistant Head of the Olenivka prison in Donetsk region. In this role, he has been identified by journalistic investigations and survivor testimonies as being directly involved in the torture, beating and humiliation of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians. Reports indicate that most detainees in Olenivka prison were subjected to systematic torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
By virtue of his position and actions, Artem Potapchuk is responsible for serious human rights violations in Ukraine, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.


13.7.2026




141.


Dmitry NEELOV
a.k.a.
Dmitry NEYOLOV
a.k.a.
Dmitry NEYELOV
a.k.a.
Dmitro NEYOLOV


Дмитрий НЕЕЛОВ
(Russian)
Дмитро НЕЙОЛОВ
(Ukrainian)


Function: First Deputy Head of Olenivka prison
Nationality: Ukrainian
Gender: male
Associated entities: Penal Colony No. 120 – Olenivka prison


Dmitry Neelov is the First Deputy Head of the Olenivka prison. In this role, he has been identified by journalistic investigations and survivor testimonies as being involved in the torture, beating and humiliation of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians. Most detainees in Olenivka were subjected to systematic torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
Moreover, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine have identified the involvement of Dmitry Neelov in the mass killing of Ukrainian POWs in Olenivka on 28 and 29 July 2022. He is directly responsible for arbitrary killing of Ukrainian military personnel, as he was aware of the consequences of the explosions and the number of casualties caused by the Russian attack on the Olenivka prison on 28 and 29 July 2022, but deliberately delayed the evacuation of the wounded leading to the deaths of several of them.
By virtue of his position and actions, Dmitry Neelov is responsible for serious human rights violations in Ukraine, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as arbitrary killing through acts or omissions leading to the Olenivka explosions and the subsequent deaths of Ukrainian POWs.


13.7.2026




142.


Kirill Viktorovich SHAKUROV
a.k.a.
Kyrylo SHAKUROV


Кирилл Викторович ШАКУРОВ
(Russian)
Кирило Вікторович ШАКУРОВ
(Ukrainian)


Function: Senior Warrant Officer, Junior inspector of the duty shift at Penal Colony No 120, until 2022; since 2023, he has been an employee of Correctional Colony No 27, Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DOB: 3.9.1986
Nationality: Ukrainian
Gender: male
Address: Donetsk oblast, Gorlovka city, Chernikova street, house 35, apt. 4
Ukrainian passport: ВК No 262981
Associated entities: Penal Colony No. 120 – Olenivka prison
Tax identification number: 3165702233


Kirill Shakurov was Senior Warrant Officer, Junior inspector of the duty shift at Penal Colony No 120 (Olenivka prison) until 2022. In this capacity he was involved in the systematic beating, torture with the use of special and other means, and humiliation of captured Ukrainian servicemen.
Since 2023, he has been an employee of Correctional Colony No 27, Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the “Donetsk People’s Republic”.
By virtue of his position and actions, Kirill Shakurov is responsible for serious human rights violations in Ukraine, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.


13.7.2026




143.


Vasiliy Valerievich BAKALINSKIY
a.k.a.
Vasyl BAKALINSKIY


Василий Валерьевич БАКАЛИНСКИЙ
(Russian)
Василь Валерійович БАКАЛИНСЬКИЙ
(Ukrainian)


Function: Warrant Officer and employee of Penal Colony No 120
DOB: 17.12.1989
Nationality: Ukrainian
Gender: male
Address: Donetsk oblast, Volnovakha district, Molodezhnoye village, Novoselov street, house 6, apt. 3
Associated individuals: Kirill Viktorovich Shakurov, Yuriy Alekseyevich Dmitrenko
Associated entities: Penal Colony No 120 (Olenivka prison)


Vasiliy Bakalinskiy is a supervisor/warden at Penal Colony No 120 (Olenivka prison). In this capacity he has been involved in the systematic beating, torture with the use of special and other means, and humiliation of captured Ukrainian servicemen.
By virtue of his position and actions, Vasiliy Bakalinskiy is responsible for serious human rights violations in Ukraine, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.


13.7.2026




144.


Vyacheslav Nikolayevich YAKURNOV


Вячеслав Николаевич ЯКУРНОВ
(Russian)


Function: Major, head of the operational department of Penal Colony No. 120, Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DOB: 14.2.1981
Nationality: Ukrainian
Gender: male
Address: Donetsk oblast, Donetsk city, Ovnatanyana st., bldg. 40, apt. 9
Ukrainian passport number: series ВА No 678960
Russian passport number: series 6023 No 090380
Associated entities: Penal Colony No. 120 – Olenivka prison


Vyacheslav Yakurnov is the Head of the operational department at Olenivka prison in Donetsk region. In this role, he has been identified by journalistic investigations and survivor testimonies as being directly involved in the torture, beating and humiliation of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians. Reports indicate that most detainees in Olenivka were subjected to systematic torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
By virtue of his position and actions, Vyacheslav Yakurnov is responsible for serious human rights violations in Ukraine, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.


13.7.2026




145.


Yan Vyacheslavovych ZANEVSKY
a.k.a.
Ladya


Ян Вячеславович ЗАНЕВСКИЙ
(Russian)


Function: FSB officer
DOB: 20.5.1995
Address: Moscow, 12 Tvadovskogo Street, building 3, apt. 263; Moscow, Lobnenskaya st. 2, apt. 128


Yan Zanevsky (alias “Ladya”), an officer of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), is responsible for serious human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
In his capacity as an FSB “curator”, Yan Zanevsky personally supervised and participated in the illegal detention and torture of civilians, including acts of extreme physical and psychological violence such as beatings, suffocation, and sexual abuse.
Yan Zanevsky is therefore responsible for torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.


13.7.2026




146.


Yuri Alekseevich DMYTRENKO


Юрий Алексеевич ДМИТРЕНКО
(Russian)
Юрій Олексійович ДМИТРЕНКО
(Ukrainian)


Function: Warrant Officer and employee of Penal Colony No 120 (Olenivka prison); Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DOB: 11.10.1979
Nationality: Ukrainian
Gender: male
Address: TOT of Donetsk region, Horlivka, st. Korchagina, bud. 28, sq. 32
Associated entities: Penal Colony No 120 (Olenivka prison)


Yuri Dmytrenko is a supervisor/warden at Penal Colony No 120 (Olenivka prison). In this capacity he has been involved in the systematic beating, torture with the use of special and other means, and humiliation of captured Ukrainian servicemen.
By virtue of his position and actions, Yuri Dmytrenko is responsible for serious human rights violations in Ukraine, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.


13.7.2026’














(2)


the following entry is added to the list of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies under heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies’:










 


Names (Transliteration into Latin script)


Names


Identifying information


Reasons for listing


Date of listing




‘42.


Pre-trial detention center-2 Taganrog “SIZO 2”


СИЗО-2 Таганрог
a.k.a.
ФКУ СИЗО-2 ГУФСИН России по Ростовской области
(Russian)


Address: 347910, 175, Lenin Str., Rostov Region, Taganrog
Place of registration: Russian Federation, Taganrog
Principal place of business: Russian Federation


SIZO-2 (Detention Centre No. 2, Taganrog) is one of the Russian Federation’s detention facilities used to hold Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, including journalists and women.
Former detainees report systemic torture, including electric shocks, beatings, forced confessions, and other forms of physical and psychological abuse. Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna died in the facility after a year of detention, with forensic examinations showing numerous signs of torture, including electrocution, abrasions and broken bones.
Testimonies confirm that Ukrainian captives in SIZO-2 are routinely subjected to torture and ill-treatment, in a system involving FSIN special units and the FSB. Detainees are deprived of medical care, held in degrading conditions and threatened to secure confessions.
SIZO-2 is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Russia, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.


13.7.2026’











ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1720/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)