A coordinated wave of sanctions from the United States, United Kingdom and European Union in October 2025 has intensified global restrictions on Russia’s energy revenues, signalling a renewed effort to curb funding streams that support its military activities.
According to KYC360, the latest measures place Russia’s largest oil companies—Rosneft and Lukoil—at the centre of new restrictions, alongside international actors that continue to facilitate Russian oil movements. For compliance teams, the developments represent a significant escalation in scope, reach and regulatory expectations.
In the U.S., the Treasury announced sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil on 22 October 2025 and issued a call for an immediate ceasefire. The restrictions also apply to any entity owned 50% or more by either company, meaning businesses with complex ownership structures must now reassess their exposure across customer groups, suppliers and trading partners. The broad definition reflects U.S. regulators’ emphasis on indirect connections, making due diligence a crucial priority for firms operating globally.
The UK followed with a major package of 90 sanctions targeting the Russian oil sector on 15 October 2025. This included measures against the same two energy giants, as well as sanctions involving four Chinese oil terminals and 44 tankers linked to Russia’s growing “shadow fleet”—a network of vessels designed to obscure the origin and movement of sanctioned crude. For companies with exposure to maritime logistics, vessel financing or commodity trading, the UK’s actions add a new layer of operational risk.
Across the EU, policymakers unveiled the bloc’s 19th sanctions package on 23 October 2025. The measures include a ban on importing Russian liquefied natural gas into the EU from January 2027 for long-term contracts and within six months for short-term purchases. The package tightens restrictions on major Russian producers including Rosneft and Gazprom, and adds sanctions on three Chinese organisations identified as significant buyers of Russian crude oil. With the EU introducing both immediate and phased measures, compliance teams must account for near-term obligations as well as future regulatory milestones.
Together, these actions demonstrate that sanctions exposure now extends far beyond named Russian oil companies. Compliance teams must assess risk across the wider ecosystem, including intermediaries involved in shipping, insurance, financing and trade facilitation. Firms are being urged to review their data for connections to Rosneft, Lukoil and related entities, including minority ownership positions or supporting activities that may trigger indirect exposure.
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, ongoing monitoring has become essential. Firms must ensure sanctions lists and associated entity data remain up to date, as further additions and expanded definitions are widely expected. Documenting decisions, screening outcomes and risk assessments remains critical to reducing regulatory and reputational exposure.
KYC360’s screening technology is designed to support firms navigating this increasingly complex environment. The platform integrates leading data providers including Dow Jones, LSEG (World-Check) and LexisNexis, enabling users to access updates sourced directly from OFAC and UK/EU consolidated lists. It screens not only primary sanctioned entities but also related organisations through mapped connections, helping firms identify both direct and indirect exposure.
Users receive daily alerts through ongoing monitoring tools, ensuring rapid identification of new sanctions developments. Full audit trails document screening outcomes and decisions, a key requirement for regulatory review and internal governance.
These latest sanctions highlight how global jurisdictions are now targeting the entire network supporting Russia’s oil revenues. As the rules continue to expand, firms must maintain sanctions frameworks that are current, comprehensive and supported by clear, defensible processes.
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