Switzerland expands Russia sanctions, aligning measures with EU restrictions

BERN, August 11, 2026 — Switzerland has updated its sanctions regime over Russia’s war against Ukraine, adding individuals and entities linked to Moscow’s military-industrial complex, drone production, defence technology and the transportation of Russian oil.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, said the amendments were adopted Aug. 10 and entered into force Aug. 11. The measures align Switzerland’s sanctions framework with restrictions adopted by the European Union, with the Swiss notice identifying the relevant additions and amendments as originating from the EU.

Newly listed individuals include senior figures linked to Russian defence conglomerate Rostec, military technology companies and organisations supporting Russia’s defence sector. Among them are Oleg Yevtushenko, executive director of Rostec; Bekhan Ozdoyev, an industrial director at Rostec; and Aleksei Rakhmanov, an adviser to Rostec’s director general and former head of United Shipbuilding Corporation.

The package also targets companies involved in producing drones, missile and aerospace components, military communications systems and other defence-related technologies. Listings include Russian and Belarusian companies as well as firms based in China.

A significant portion of the measures focuses on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and companies involved in transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products. Shipping managers and operators in Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Liberia, Hong Kong and Azerbaijan were listed over activities including ship-to-ship transfers, inadequate liability insurance and manipulation of Automatic Identification Systems.

Switzerland also amended existing entries concerning several previously sanctioned individuals and entities, including Iranian businessman Hossein Shamkhani and Russian defence-sector companies.

The measures form part of Switzerland’s sanctions regime introduced after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and continue Bern’s policy of adopting sanctions substantially aligned with those imposed by the EU.