Canada sanctions MOEX, SPB Exchange, Absolute Bank, Grinex, and 120 Russian “shadow fleet” vessels

Canada has expanded its sanctions list against Russia by 7 individuals and 34 legal entities, including Moscow Exchange (MOEX: MOEX), SPB Exchange, Absolute Bank, and the crypto exchange Grinex. For high-risk payment and trading businesses, the practical point is simple: once a venue, bank, or exchange lands on a sanctions list, routing, settlement, and counterparty screening get harder very quickly.

1. According to Canada’s foreign ministry, the new package also includes Zemsky Bank, JSC Rosatom Energy Projects, the National Commodity Exchange, St. Petersburg International Commodity Exchange, St. Petersburg Currency Exchange, Vostochnaya Exchange, and the insurance company Soglasie.
2. Canada also sanctioned 2 companies from Kyrgyzstan, 2 from the UAE, and one company each from Vietnam and New Zealand. The announcement did not provide more detail on those entities in the text provided.
3. Separately, Canada imposed sanctions on 120 vessels in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” For PSPs and acquirers touching shipping-linked or commodities-linked flows, vessel-level sanctions screening is now part of the same compliance problem, not a side quest.
4. The move follows fresh UK sanctions announced today against Russia: 32 legal entities and 11 individuals, including Yandex and Wildberries subsidiary banks, plus 27 vessels the UK considers part of the same shadow fleet.
5. The European Union also announced its 21st sanctions package against Russia this week. The package is set to cover banks, weapons makers, oil traders, refineries, and crypto operators in third countries, with more than 170 entries in total.