Ukraine: Switzerland expands its sanctions lists
Berne, 12.12.2025 — On 12 December, the Federal Council expanded the sanctions lists concerning Russia and Belarus. Switzerland is thus adopting various changes that the EU decided on as part of its 19th package of sanctions. The measures will come into force on 13 December.
In response to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, the EU adopted new measures against Russia on 23 October as part of its 19th package of sanctions. The Federal Council has decided that Switzerland will adopt several listings.
Measures against Russia
Twenty-two natural persons and forty-two companies and organisations are now subject to asset freezes and a prohibition on making funds available. The individuals are also banned from entering and transiting Switzerland. The newly sanctioned persons and organisations are primarily those that belong to or serve the Russian military-industrial complex or the Russian energy sector, as well as companies that manage ships in the shadow fleet.
In addition, 116 new ships will be subject to comprehensive bans on purchases, sales and services. These are mainly tankers that are part of Russia's shadow fleet and, in particular, circumvent the price caps for Russian crude oil or Russian petroleum products (oil price cap) through the use of risky transport practices
In the trade sector, 45 new companies, including in third countries, are subject to stricter export control measures. The aim of this measure is to counteract deliveries of critical goods to Russia's military-industrial complex.
Five Russian banks and four branches of Russian banks in third countries have been placed under a transaction ban, in particular because they use Russian payment systems. Further, eight companies in third countries have been placed under a transaction ban because they significantly undermine the purpose of the sanctions.
The amendment to the Ordinance on Measures Relating to the Situation in Ukraine also includes the extension of deadlines for granting exemptions to enable Swiss companies to withdraw their investments from Russia in an orderly fashion.
The EU's 19th package of sanctions provides for a range of additional measures affecting the financial, energy and trade sectors, which were presented to the Federal Council at its meeting on 12 December. The Federal Council will subsequently consider these sweeping measures and provide an update.
Measures against Belarus
On 23 October, the EU also imposed measures against Belarus in light of its continued involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine. Switzerland has adopted the EU listings and subjected two natural persons and three companies to an asset freeze and a prohibition on making funds available. The individuals are also banned from entering and transiting Switzerland. At a subsequent stage, the Federal Council will consider the sectoral measures against Belarus and provide information on this matter.
Enquiries from companies:
sanctions@seco.admin.ch
058 464 08 12
AS 2025 837 - Verordnung über Massnahmen im Zusammenhang mit der Situation in der Ukraine | Fedlex
AS 2025 836 - Verordnung über Massnahmen gegenüber Belarus | Fedlex