An embargo has been imposed on Belarusian financial institutions

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The European Union has expanded its sanctions list with enterprises of the Lukashenko regime: those involved in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and has also enhanced banking sanctions.

Information about some of these enterprises had previously been submitted to EU authorities by the team of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM). In particular, OJSC "VISTAN" produces goods for the needs of the Russian military-industrial complex. The production program of OJSC "VISTAN" is focused on the technological support of the automotive, electrical, aerospace, and other sectors of the mechanical engineering complex.

A partner of the enterprise is JSC "Federal Research and Production Center 'Titan-Barricades'" — a multi-profile enterprise of the Russian defense industry, which is part of JSC "Corporation 'Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology'" (under the state corporation "Roscosmos").

In recent years, VISTAN has also been supplying products to the Scientific and Production Corporation "Uralvagonzavod", which includes more than 20 enterprises of the Russian Federation’s defense complex. It also collaborates with enterprises of Rosatom. Currently, OJSC "VISTAN" is implementing a large investment project — "Union Machine Tool Plant" — within the framework of integration programs between Belarus and Russia. The company is already under Ukrainian sanctions.

In total, 8 defense enterprises of the Lukashenko regime have been included in the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia (UE "Belvneshpromservice", NP LLC "OKB TSP", LLC "KB Unmanned Helicopters", OJSC "Zavod Legmash", UE "Scientific and Technical Center LEMT 'BelOMO'", LLC "Laser Devices and Technologies", LLC "Rukhservomotor").

While some analysts had published unconfirmed information about the complete cessation of EU cooperation with all Belarusian banks, on June 11, 2025, the head of NAM, Pavel Latushko, commented to Euroradio that the banks previously disconnected from SWIFT would now have their correspondent accounts closed. This indeed came to pass: Belagroprombank, Bank Dobrobyt, Development Bank, and Belinvestbank came under new EU restrictions we had been pushing for. In addition to disconnection from SWIFT, the EU has banned any transactions with them.

As Pavel Latushko noted, these measures constitute a targeted and precise strike on the financial infrastructure of the Lukashenko regime, without affecting the everyday needs of Belarusians. This demonstrates the EU’s consistency in isolating the military and economic support Lukashenko provides to Russian aggression, while also confirming the effectiveness of joint efforts by democratic forces in advancing the sanctions policy.

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