Brussels has cited the alleged use of gaming consoles in drone operations
The EU has proposed banning the export of video game consoles to Russia as part of its upcoming 16th sanctions package, foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters on Tuesday. The measure is expected to be included in a broader round of restrictions set to take effect on February 22, marking the third anniversary since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Kallas has claimed that Russia uses gaming consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation to control drones. “We are really looking into all the types of things that help Russia to wage this war to put them on the sanctions list,” she was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.
The proposed measure would target traders within the bloc who continue to export gaming consoles to Russia, including second-hand sellers. The three largest gaming console manufacturers – Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo – have already suspended sales in Russia following the introduction of Western sanctions in early 2022. Their products, however, have continued to enter the Russian market through parallel imports.
Western and Ukrainian intelligence agencies previously claimed that Moscow adapted civilian electronics for military purposes due to restrictions on military-grade components. Reports claim that basic semiconductors from refrigerators and household appliances have been used in Russian missiles and drones.
The proposal has drawn criticism within the gaming industry. Yasha Haddazhi, the CEO of the importing company Achivka and head of the Russian Association of Distributors and Importers of Video Games, noted that not a single EU country produces gaming consoles and has questioned the effectiveness of the measure.
In a statement to RBK, Haddazhi said Russia’s gaming console imports do not even pass through the EU, adding that Kallas’ proposal either “demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the video game industry or is another empty gesture.”
EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Hungary previously threatened to veto sanctions due to Ukraine’s decision to halt the transit of Russian gas. According to Politico, Budapest approved an extension of existing restrictions after securing assurances from the EU that its energy security concerns would be addressed.
The sanctions package is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks ahead of the February 22 deadline.
Russia has decried the Western sanctions, calling them illegal and contrary to international law, and has demanded they be lifted.
