Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The seventh tranche of financial assistance from the European Union under the Ukraine Facility – EUR 2.8 billion – will be transferred to Ukraine in early June 2026.

The US Department of State has approved the potential sale to Ukraine of Joint Direct Attack Munitions – Extended Range (JDAM-ER) and related equipment worth $373.6 million.

The government of Norway has announced the allocation of 2.8 billion kroner (approximately $174.4 million) to Ukraine through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot has pointed out that recent events point to russia’s deepening problems on the front lines and within the country, and that the kremlin should consider ending the war against Ukraine. “It is time for the kremlin to ‘see the light’ regarding its failure and to end its unjustified and destructive war of aggression,” he wrote.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys has stated that the rf ignored Ukraine’s proposal for a “ceasefire” starting May 6, and that this is further proof of russia’s unwillingness to end the war.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna has also said that russia’s rejection of the ceasefire proposed by Ukraine confirms moscow’s lack of interest in genuine peace.

The EU Council has approved a decision on the European Union’s signing of the Extended Partial Agreement on the Special Tribunal on russia’s Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, which will apply to top officials of the rf, including kremlin leader putin.

Liechtenstein is joining the effort to establish a Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Grigoryan has called Ukraine’s experience with drones “invaluable for the Armenian Armed Forces”.

The International Football Association (FIFA) is not going to reinstate russian clubs and national teams following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The European Commission has warned the organizing committee of the Venice Biennale that russia’s participation in the exhibition would violate the European Union’s sanctions regime.

rf

In russia, the volume of grants provided to small and medium-sized businesses fell by 53% in the first quarter. Over three years, the decline amounted to 84%. If this rate of decline continues, this business support tool will cease to exist in just 18 months.

The rf’s services sector contracted for the second consecutive month in April, as weak customer demand led to a decline in production volumes and new sales. Business confidence in the future has fallen to its lowest level since December 2022.

The increase in cash in circulation outside the rf’s banking system, amid intensified blocking of mobile internet and other connectivity issues, amounted to 612 billion rubles for the period from April 1 to May 5.

The ministry of industry and trade of the rf plans to increase the permissible flight hours and service life of SSJ100 aircraft following the collapse of a large-scale program to revive the aviation industry, which the kremlin launched in 2023. The permissible flight hours for “superjets” per aircraft are expected to increase from 15,000–25,000 hours to 25,000–40,000 hours, effectively doubling the limit. The service life of some versions of the aircraft will be extended to 20 years.

The ministry of industry and trade has also supported the introduction of a 22% VAT on international online orders effective January 1, 2027.

Imported footwear may may sharply become more expensive in russia: the russian union of leather and footwear manufacturers has proposed that the government restrict its imports into the country.

russians may also be left without furniture from “unfriendly” countries. Authorities are discussing the introduction of protective tariffs due to a decline in production at russian furniture factories.

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of travel agencies liquidated in the rf increased by 34.2% year-on-year.

Passenger tyre production in russia in the first quarter of 2026 fell by 23.26% year-on-year.

russia has seen a significant increase in cheese inventories amid the slowing consumption growth. As of early April, cheese inventories had risen by 21%. This is by 52% higher than the average over the past five years.

Retail sales of books in russia in the first quarter of 2026 fell by 18.8%. In monetary terms, the market lost 5.8%. Educational literature continues to decline faster than other thematic segments (-16%).

In 2025, production of lifts in russia fell by 6.4% compared to the previous year. By 2030, approximately 90,000 lifts will need to be replaced in the rf, but the pace of procurement remains insufficient. The industry had hoped to offset the decline in commercial demand with major repair programs, but there is insufficient funding for this. By the end of 2026, the decline in the private sector may continue by another 30–40%.

Over four years, from 2022 to 2025, the number of construction supply shops in russia decreased by 11%. The largest declines were seen in shops selling electrical goods (-26%), fasteners (-24%), plumbing fixtures (-17.5%), windows (-15%), paints and varnishes (-12.5%), doors (-8%), and wallpaper (-4%).

The total compensation for executive staff at nine russian developers last year decreased by 29.3% compared to 2024.

The number of illegal lenders in russia increased by 36% in the first quarter of 2026.

In 2025, “kamaz” sales plummeted by 20.7% to 18,300 units. The net loss amounted to 43 billion rubles – the company posted a loss for the first time since 2019.

The board of directors of “rusal” has recommended not to pay dividends for the first quarter of 2026.

The board of directors of the russian energy company “unipro” has recommended not to pay dividends for 2025. Based on the results of 2024, the company also refused to pay dividends.

russian high school leavers have been banned from dancing the waltz to foreign songs at their graduation balls.

Ahead of the parades and marches on May 9, large-scale internet shutdowns are planned in at least 21 regions of the rf.

When the authorities shut down the internet, russians should not worry about it, but rather reflect on the immortality of the soul. This statement was made by russian orthodox church official vakhtang kipshidze.

russian authorities have given up building a railway to khanty-mansiysk – russia’s oil capital: the project has been removed from the list of priorities. The city is home to over 100,000 people. Due to the lack of a railway, the vast majority of cargo is delivered there by road, which contributes to rising prices, including for food. Due to the massive crisis that began in 2022 following the russian troops’ full-scale invasion of Ukraine, “russian railways” (rzd) had to freeze all large-scale projects, including the modernization of the BAM.

The city administration of yanaul (bashkortostan) will turn off street lighting on some streets due to the city budget deficit.

The Internal Security Agency (ABW) of Poland has published the public portion of its report on its activities in 2024–2025. It points out that in recent years there has been an increase in the activity of russian and belarusian intelligence services, which cooperate with each other. “Poland remains a priority operational target for belarusian intelligence,” the report states. The ABW emphasizes close cooperation between russian and belarusian intelligence services.

From 2020 through the end of April 2026, at least 2,022 NPOs – including unions, trade unions, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and associations – have been dissolved in belarus.

Following the designation of the European Humanities University (EUH) as an “extremist organization” in belarus, criminal liability may be imposed for studying or working at the University, providing financial support, or even subscribing to its resources.

In belarus, former political prisoners are summoned to district police stations for “preventive conversations”, which are often conducted by individuals in plain clothes who do not introduce themselves. Former political prisoners are asked about their personal beliefs and private lives: how they voted, their attitude to the current government, whether they hold any grudges, whether they receive assistance from abroad, and whether they have relatives in other countries.