Date: 2026-03-16Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/646 of 16 March 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities
**Executive Summary**
Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/646, adopted on 16 March 2026, amends Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 to add four natural persons to the list of individuals subject to restrictive measures. This decision is a response to Russia’s ongoing hybrid attacks and malicious activities aimed at destabilising the Union, its Member States, and third countries. The measures enter into force immediately upon the date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory Amendments**
* **Expansion of Sanctions List:** The decision amends Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 by adding four natural persons involved in information manipulation and interference.
* **Legal Basis:** The action is taken under Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union and follows conclusions adopted by the European Council in December 2025 regarding hybrid attacks.
* **Effective Date:** The Decision became effective on 16 March 2026.
**Newly Sanctioned Individuals and Justifications**
* **Sergey Aleksandrovich Klyuchenkov (aka Sergey Mardan):** A Russian journalist and propagandist cited for justifying the war of aggression, calling for the "de-Ukrainisation" of occupied territories, and suggesting retaliatory strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, including the USA, Germany, France, and the UK.
* **Ernest Gedrevich Mackevicius:** A leading news anchor for Russian state television accused of spreading biased reports on military advances, supporting Vladimir Putin, and engaging in information manipulation that undermines the security and stability of the Union and Ukraine.
* **Graham Williams Phillips:** A British blogger and propagandist cited for filming degrading content of deceased Ukrainian soldiers, spreading anti-Ukrainian disinformation from occupied areas (e.g., Mariupol), and receiving a passport from the so-called "Luhansk People’s Republic."
* **Adrien Bocquet:** A media figure and amplifier of Kremlin narratives in Europe who uses social media and Kremlin-funded outlets to distort the realities of the war and deny Russian war crimes.
**Impact Analysis**
**Listed Natural Persons (Klyuchenkov, Mackevicius, Phillips, Bocquet)**
**Impact**
These individuals are now subject to the restrictive measures set out in Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643, which target persons responsible for or supporting actions that undermine the rule of law, stability, and security in the Union or third countries.
**Action Required**
The individuals are subject to the legal consequences of being listed, which typically include restrictions on movement and financial assets within the Union's jurisdiction.
**EU Member States and Competent Authorities**
**Impact**
Member States are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the updated restrictive measures against the four newly listed individuals.
**Action Required**
National authorities must update their internal enforcement databases and ensure that the restrictions associated with Annex I of Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 are applied to these specific persons.
**Economic Operators and Legal Entities within the EU**
**Impact**
Entities must ensure they are not in violation of the restrictive measures now applicable to these four individuals.
**Action Required**
Operators should conduct immediate screening of their databases to identify any existing relationships or transactions involving the listed persons and comply with the prohibitions mandated by the amended Decision.
Key Entities Referenced
Council of the European Union: The primary decision-making body of the EU responsible for adopting and amending restrictive measures under the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643: The principal legal framework establishing restrictive measures in response to Russia's destabilising activities, which this document amends to add specific natural persons to the sanctions list.
Treaty on European Union: The foundational legal authority, specifically Article 29, under which the Council adopts decisions to implement the Union's restrictive measures.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/646 16.3.2026
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2026/646
of 16 March 2026
amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s
destabilising activities
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 8 October 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643(1).
(2) On 18 December 2025, the European Council adopted conclusions in which it strongly condemned all recent hybrid
attacks against the Union and its Member States.
(3) The Union remains unwavering in its condemnation of Russia’s malicious activities directed against the Union, its
Member States, international organisations and third countries.
(4) In view of the gravity of the situation, the Council considers that four natural persons should be added to the list of
natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643.
(5) Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 16 March 2026.
For the Council
The President
K. KALLAS
(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 of 8 October 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities
(OJ L, 2024/2643, 9.10.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2643/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/646/oj 1/5ANNEX
The following entries are added to Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 under the heading ‘A. Natural persons’:
Name Identifying information Statement of Reasons Date of listing
‘66. Sergey Aleksandrovich Function: journalist, radio presenter and TV Sergey Klyuchenkov is a prominent Russian political analyst and propagandist who 16.3.2026
KLYUCHENKOV presenter; employee of “Komsomolskaya plays an active role in spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed at
Pravda”, host of the radio programme “Evening justifying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
(Russian: Сергей Александрович
Divan” and the TV programme “Mardan” on the
КЛЮЧЕНКОВ) Klyuchenkov supports attacks on Ukraine, including attacks on civilians, and calls for
Soloviev LIVE channel
further violence. In addition, Klyuchenkov has called for the “de-Ukrainisation” of
a.k.a. Sergey MARDAN; Sergey
DOB: 11.7.1969 occupied territories, including a ban on Ukrainian language, the removal of cultural
LELEKA
symbols and violence against supporters of Ukrainian identity. Klyuchenkov calls for
POB: Varezh, USSR (now Russian Federation)
(Russian: Сергей МАРДАН; the occupation by Russia of Baltic states and suggests retaliatory strikes against
Сергей ЛЕЛЕКА) Nationality: Russian countries that support Ukraine, including the USA, Türkiye , Germany, France and the
UK.
Gender: male
Therefore, Sergey Klyuchenkov is supporting actions and policies attributable to the
Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the
rule of law, stability and security in the Union and in a third country (Ukraine)
through engaging in, directly or indirectly, and supporting the use of information
manipulation and interference, and through supporting a violent conflict in a third
country (Ukraine).
2/5
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/646/oj
EN
OJ
L,
16.3.2026Name Identifying information Statement of Reasons Date of listing
67. Ernest Gedrevich Function: journalist and TV presenter; host of Ernest Mackevicius is the leading news anchor of Russian state television. He is the 16.3.2026
MACKEVICIUS the programme “Vesti at 20:00” on the channel host and face of the news programme “Vesti at 20:00” on the channel “Russia”.
“Russia”
(Russian: Эрнест Гедревич Mackevicius regularly spreads disinformation and propaganda about Russia’s war of
МАЦКЯВИЧЮС) DOB: 25.11.1968 aggression against Ukraine, about Ukraine itself and about Ukrainian armed forces.
He consistently presents biased reports on advances of the Russian military and losses
POB: Vilnius, Lithuania
or retreats of the Ukrainian army.
Nationality: Lithuanian, Russian
He also supports the Russian armed forces and Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. In
Gender: male 2024, he served as a commentator for Putin’s inauguration on the television channel
“Rossiya 1”, an entity listed by the Union.
Therefore, Ernest Mackevicius is responsible for, implementing, supporting and
benefitting from actions and policies attributable to the Government of the Russian
Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability and
security in the Union and in a third country (Ukraine) through engaging in, directly or
indirectly, and supporting the use of information manipulation and interference, and
through supporting a violent conflict in a third country (Ukraine).
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/646/oj
3/5
OJ
L,
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ENName Identifying information Statement of Reasons Date of listing
68. Graham Williams PHILLIPS Function: journalist, blogger Graham Phillips is a prominent British propagandist who plays an active role in 16.3.2026
spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed at justifying Russia’s war of
DOB: 26.1.1979
aggression against Ukraine.
POB: Dundee, United Kingdom
Phillips regularly films content from Russian-occupied areas, including interviews
Nationality: British with captured British fighters, and filmed degrading video of the remains of
a Ukrainian soldier. He also makes propaganda articles about the Russian-occupied
Gender: male territories of Ukraine such as Mariupol and spreads anti-Ukrainian disinformation,
referring to the Ukrainian government as “Nazis” and accusing Ukraine of
indiscriminate shelling of separatist regions and of prolonging the war. Phillips also
received a passport from the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic”.
Therefore, Graham Phillips is supporting actions and policies attributable to the
Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the
rule of law, stability and security in the Union and in a third country (Ukraine)
through engaging in, directly or indirectly, and supporting the use of information
manipulation and interference, and through supporting a violent conflict in a third
country (Ukraine).
4/5
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/646/oj
EN
OJ
L,
16.3.2026Name Identifying information Statement of Reasons Date of listing
69. Adrien BOCQUET Function: media figure Adrien Bocquet is a media figure who has repeatedly positioned himself as an 16.3.2026’
amplifier of Kremlin propaganda in Europe and in Russia. Through appearances at
POB: France
symbolic conflict sites, interviews with Russian television, publications on his X
Nationality: French, Russian account (which has 18 100 followers) and contributions to Kremlin-funded outlets
such as International Reporters, he amplifies Kremlin narratives that distort the
Gender: male realities of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including denial of Russian war
crimes. His engagement in media productions and public endorsement of Russian
narratives facilitates the spread of information manipulation and undermines
informed public debate.
Therefore, Adrien Bocquet is supporting, involved in and facilitating actions or
policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine
or threaten stability or security in the Union or in a third country (Ukraine) through
planning, directing, engaging in, directly and indirectly, and supporting the use of
information manipulation and interference.
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/646/oj
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EN