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Russia sanctions regime: industry and specialist guidance

Statutory guidance and additional industry guidance on the UK’s Russia sanctions: sanctioned persons, banks, goods and services and the Oil Price Cap (OPC) and related services.

Updates to this page

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published:
15 April 2019
Last updated:
19 May 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added General Trade Licence for sanctioned processed oil products.

  2. Added 'Countering Russian sanctions evasion: guidance for the freight and shipping sector' to the section on circumvention.

  3. 'Reference documents for Customs (Additional Duty) (Russia and Belarus) Regulations 2022' added.

  4. Added new guidance on UK sanctions for non UK businesses operating outside the UK.

  5. Added multiple existing documents in 7 new sections to make it easier to find government guidance relating to the Russia sanctions.

  6. Links to all 2024 and 2025 amendments added

  7. Two guidance documents added to the documents collection: "Complying with technology transfer sanctions" and "Complying with sectoral software sanctions".

  8. Link added for signing up to the new joint UK sanctions email alert service, provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI).

  9. Countering Russian sanctions evasion and circumvention & No-Russia clause guidance pages have been added to the document collection.

  10. Contact details amended for those who need information on trade sanctions.

  11. Added information on the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2024  

  12. Added links to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 and the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2023.

  13. Two new additions and amendments to to amend the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

  14. Added links to additional documents: Russia Sanctions – Common High Priority Items List and NTE 2023/08: Russia sanctions – Trade sanctions circumvention

  15. Added a link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

  16. Added a link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 16) Regulations 2022

  17. A link has been added to additional guidance published by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) on 7 December on applying for licences to export professional and business services to a person connected to Russia.

  18. Added a link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 16) Regulations 2022

  19. Added a link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulations 2022

  20. Added video of the webinar on UK sanctions relating to Russia from 21 September 2022.

  21. Added a link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 14) Regulations 2022

  22. Added a link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 12) Regulations 2022 and the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 13) Regulations 2022

  23. Added a link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 11) Regulations 2022

  24. Updated to link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 10) Regulations 2022

  25. Updated to link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 9) Regulations 2022

  26. Updated to link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 8) Regulations 2022

  27. Updated to link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 2022.

  28. Added video of the webinar on UK sanctions relating to Russia from 17 March.

  29. Updated to link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2022.

  30. Updated to link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 and the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2022.

  31. Updated to show that new designations have been made under the Russia sanctions regime.

  32. Added contact information for the Export Support Service.

  33. Updated to link to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

  34. The UK's sanctions framework has changed.

  35. A link to general guidance on financial sanctions has been added.

  36. The link to the Russia sanctions regime statutory guidance has been added.

  37. First published.

The Russia sanctions regime is aimed at:

  • encouraging Russia to cease actions destabilising Ukraine or undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine
  • promoting the payment of compensation by Russia for damage, loss or injury suffered by Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Financial sanctions

The statutory guidance explains the prohibitions and requirements that apply. These documents provide further guidance.

Trade sanctions

The statutory guidance explains the prohibitions and requirements that apply. These documents provide further guidance.

Circumvention

Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap (OPC) exception

The Maritime Services Ban prohibits the transportation by ship of Russian oil and oil products from a place in Russia to a third country, or from one third country to another. It also bans certain services associated with such transportation.

The OPC exception allows the supply or delivery of Russian oil and oil products by ship, as well as provision of associated services – so long as the price paid for Russian oil or oil products is at or below the relevant price cap.

Sanctions on providing standalone services

The statutory guidance explains the prohibitions and requirements that apply to providing services to persons connected with Russia , including:

  • accounting and auditing
  • advertising and public relations
  • architectural and engineering
  • business and management consulting
  • IT consultancy and design
  • legal advisory

These documents provide further guidance.

Sanctions on imports

Guidance for non-UK businesses operating outside the UK

Guidance to help non-UK businesses understand UK sanctions and how they may impact on their business operations outside the UK. Includes practical steps for businesses to manage sanctions risks and increase compliance.

Notices to exporters relating to Russia trade sanctions

The Export Joint Control Unit (ECJU) sends updates about significant changes to the regime. To receive these updates, subscribe to Notices to exporters.

Contents

Related content

Invasion of Ukraine