The EU updated its frequently asked questions over its Russian sanctions regime, releasing guidance on road transport and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The road transport FAQs cover criteria member state authorities should apply to determine if the transport of goods by a road transport undertaking established in Russia or Belarus is necessary and thus should be authorized; whether an authorization should be granted to a single shipment, a company or a specific transport operation; and more. The Donetsk and Luhansk FAQs cover how operators should assess which areas in the regions are subject to restrictions and how member states should treat Russian companies when they carry out goods transiting between Russia and Kaliningrad.

The U.K.'s House of Commons Library released two research briefs reviewing energy imports from Russia and sanctions on that country. "Imports of energy from Russia" covers the U.K.'s reliance on Russian energy, Russian energy's impact on international energy markets, restrictions on Russian energy imports, and data on Russian energy reliance. "Sanctions against Russia" reviews U.K. sanctions on Russia before 2022, as well as the U.K.'s response to Russia's recent aggression toward Ukraine, coordination of sanctions with other major countries and secondary sanctions.

Shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Co. continues to accept deliveries of food, medicine, health-care equipment and humanitarian aid from Russia, the company confirmed in response to questions from Bloomberg. MSC is attempting to draw a balance between cutting business ties with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and continuing to provide essential goods to the nation, the company told Bloomberg, the news outlet reported July 14.

The England and Wales High Court adjourned a trial involving Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, only recently releasing the May 6 judgment publicly. Deripaska was sanctioned by many of the world's leading economies in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the defendant cannot pay his lawyers for legal representation in the present case, so the legal team is "coming off the record." The lawyers applied to adjourn to avoid an unfair trial. In vacating the case, Justice Sara Cockerill ruled she is "satisfied in this significant hard-fought and complex case a fair trial would not be possible -- however dim a view one takes of Mr Deripaska's past actions." The case involves a long-running dispute over alleged breaches by Deripaska, with Navigator Equities obtaining an arbitral award against the oligarch.

The U.K. amended entries under its Russia and Belarus sanctions regime, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said in a pair of notices July 12. Under the Russia sanction list, OFSI amended 16 entries and corrected those for Vadim Anatolyevich Lukashevich and German Valentinovich Belous.

Eight European countries not in the EU aligned themselves with a recent EU sanctions decision on Iran, the European Council announced. In June, the council amended the list of individuals and entities subject to the sanctions regime on Iran. In response, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway aligned with the decision, ensuring that the sanctions will be imposed by their regulatory authorities.

The U.K.'s Department for International Trade on July 11 announced the launch of the U.K.-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce. The group held its first meeting, with the U.K. committing to assist with temporary housing and longer-term infrastructure projects to aid the rebuilding effort after the war in Ukraine.

Lithuania has halted the transport of more goods to Kaliningrad as more EU restrictions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine take effect, Reuters reported. Lithuania banned the transit of concrete, wood, alcohol and alcohol-based industrial chemicals via its territory to the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, which includes a seaport, a spokesperson for Lithuanian customs said, Reuters reported. The ban also includes an expansion of the restrictions on ferrous metals, which began in June. Russia called the ban on some goods an illegal blockade, while Lithuania said it has no choice but to enforce the EU's sanctions. Russia warned of "harsh measures" that could be imposed in response to Lithuania's move.

The European Commission on July 8 updated its Russia sanctions frequently asked questions, releasing new guidance. The deposits FAQs include how to make an authorization under the sanctions list, formal requirements on how the authorization should be designed, and what information should be obtained by the national authority for assessments made under the sanctions regime. The trust services FAQs cover the definition for the term "trust or any similar legal arrangement," what activities are banned in relation to trusts, how the ban is applied in practice, and more.

The EU dropped Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo from its Democratic Republic of the Congo sanctions regime after he successfully challenged his listing in the EU General Court. In April, the court ruled Luyoyo no longer holds positions that justify his designation as a sanctioned party under the list and said not enough evidence establishes a link between him and the security situation in the DRC (see 2204290026). His request was declined in 2019.