New Russia sanctions: 201 ships and 29 people

Summary#

These final amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations add people, companies and ships to Canada’s Russia sanctions lists and create a new ban on providing services related to those listed vessels. The changes came into force on June 13, 2025 and are published in the Canada Gazette on July 2, 2025.

What it does#

• Adds 29 individuals and 24 entities to Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, bringing them under Canada’s full dealings ban (asset freeze and related prohibitions).
• Moves OJSC Surgutneftegas from Schedule 3 to Schedule 1 so it is subject to the full dealings ban.
• Replaces Schedule 1.1 and adds 201 vessels (identified by IMO number) to that list of ships believed to have transported goods for or on behalf of Russia.
• Prohibits any person in Canada, and any Canadian outside Canada, from providing services to a person outside Canada (who is not Canadian) when those services relate to a vessel listed in Schedule 1.1. That covers things like insurance, technical services and other ship-related services.
• Creates narrow exceptions:
  • Activities required for a diplomatic mission to carry out its diplomatic functions, and daily-life or personal activities for Canadian diplomatic staff and their families.
  • Exchange of aircraft and engine emissions and noise data with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for setting international standards.
• Adds a disclosure exception so that property obtained in connection with permitted diplomatic activities does not have to be reported under the regulations.
• Clarifies a few technical provisions about technology and standards-setting.

Who's affected#

• People in Canada and Canadians abroad: they must not deal with listed persons or provide banned services related to listed vessels.
• Listed individuals and entities (the newly added names): they face an asset freeze in Canada and are rendered inadmissible to Canada under immigration rules.
• Canadian companies that provide ship-related services (insurers, technical service providers, ship suppliers) must screen against the new Schedule 1.1 and avoid providing services related to listed vessels.
• Canadian banks and financial institutions will need to update screening systems to block transactions involving newly listed persons and ships.
• Shipping companies, operators, flag states and ports may be affected because listed vessels are pre-determined to be subject to Canada’s docking and passage bans.
• Federal enforcement and border agencies such as the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Transport Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will use the lists in enforcement and immigration decisions.
• Small businesses: the government says direct links are unlikely, so impacts should be small, but any small firm offering ship-related services must ensure it is not servicing a listed vessel.

Why it matters#

• The changes make it easier for Canadian authorities and businesses to spot and block people, companies and ships that Canada says help Russia fund or sustain its war in Ukraine. Canada and partners view oil and gas revenue as a major source of Russia’s government funding (about 30% of revenues), so measures targeting energy-related actors aim to reduce that flow.
• Listing the ships by IMO number helps enforcement: authorities do not need to decide case‑by‑case whether a vessel is covered — the schedule identifies them in advance. That strengthens the practical effect of Canada’s docking and passage bans.
• The new ban on providing services related to listed vessels prevents Canadians from indirectly supporting those ships overseas (for example, by providing insurance or technical support).
• There will be modest compliance costs for banks and businesses to update screening systems. Violating the rules carries criminal penalties noted in the regulations — summary-conviction fines up to $25,000, or imprisonment up to 1 year; or, on indictment, imprisonment up to 5 years.
• The amendments align Canada with international partners who have targeted the so-called “shadow fleet” and other actors used to evade sanctions.