In brief: The UK sanctioned all 10 of Russia’s largest oil producers on Thursday, Nov. 12, becoming the first country to do so. The new package includes Slavneft, Rosneft’s Vostok Oil project, as well as coal companies and shadow fleet vessels used to bypass Western sanctions. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the move at the 9th European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin, where he and President Volodymyr Zelensky led a meeting focused on air defense, energy support and security guarantees. The coordination, Zelensky said, would continue at a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Berlin next week.
The UK sanctioned all 10 of Russia’s largest oil producers on Thursday, Nov. 12, becoming the first country to do so, as European leaders gathered in Dublin for the 9th European Political Community (EPC) summit.
Slavneft – which accounts for roughly 2.9% of the country’s total oil production – was added to the sanctions list, along with shadow fleet vessels used to bypass Western sanctions, major coal producers and LLC Vostok Oil, the flagship Arctic project of state oil giant Rosneft.
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The new package was announced by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s office. According to the British government, the measures now reach almost every link in Russia’s oil and gas revenue chain, from producers and traders to supply networks and tankers.
“Peace talks on Ukraine have progressed but now is not the time for complacency – we must continue to ramp up pressure on Russia to agree to a full and immediate ceasefire,” Burnham said.
Over 3,500 targets already sanctioned by the UK
The latest sanctions complete a campaign London has been building for more than a year.
In 2025, the UK targeted Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas in January, followed by Rosneft and Lukoil in October, and Tatneft, Russneft, NNK-Oil and Rusneftegaz Group in December.
Britain had sanctioned more than 600 vessels and over 3,500 targets in total under its Russia sanctions regime by Oct. 8, with more than 90% of Russia’s total oil production capacity covered, according to the British government.
On Oct.1, the UK announced a new package of 31 sanctions, focusing on global disinformation networks and individuals responsible for the torture of Ukrainian civilians and the forced deportation of children.
In late September, when the EU compromised on the extension of the sanctions on about 3,000 individuals and entities in exchange for the delistment of two Russian oligarchs, the UK pledged to keep its own sanctions in place.
Allies meet on air defense, energy
The announcement coincided with a meeting of Ukraine’s closest partners on the sidelines of the EPC meeting in Ireland, organized by Burnham and co-chaired with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The meeting brought together European leaders from several countries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. They were joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
In a separate statement on Thursday, Zelensky confirmed that the discussions focused on strengthening Ukraine’s defenses against continued Russian attacks, including through air defense missiles, energy support and the construction of new shelters.
Participants also addressed Ukraine’s financial stability, fresh contributions to NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) and security guarantees.
“We are counting on the support of our partners in all of these areas,” Zelensky said, welcoming the British sanctions. “This is another step towards limiting the resources that Russia uses to finance the war,” he added.
Burnham was set to use the summit to press for legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine, continued negotiations involving European delegations and support for Kyiv’s call for a full and immediate ceasefire, the British government said.
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