Exporters shipping to Russia face two separate layers of rules in 2026: goods that cannot be shipped because of international sanctions, and goods that are not banned but cannot clear customs without meeting mandatory requirements such as labelling and certification. This guide summarises both layers as they currently stand. Note: these lists change often; always check current official sources before shipping. This article is for information and is not legal advice.
1) Product groups that are risky or banned under sanctions
Goods classed as “high priority” under EU and US sanctions are closely monitored for export and transit to Russia. Customs and banking practice in Türkiye is restrictive for these goods in practice, and shipping in these groups creates secondary sanctions risk for the exporter:
- Electronic integrated circuits and microchips, and modules containing them
- Communications and signalling equipment, parts and components
- Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) parts and motors
- Optical, infrared and thermal imaging devices and sighting equipment
- CNC machine tools and precision machining equipment and their critical parts
- Aviation parts and other dual-use (civil and military) technologies
If you plan to ship a product in these groups, do not proceed without a current check at customs-code level and a legal opinion.
2) Russia’s own dual-use restrictions
The Russian Federation applies restrictions on dual-use goods through Government Decree No. 313 and its annexes; that framework was most recently updated by Decree No. 1874 of December 2024. Exemptions and restrictions apply in particular to electrical and electronic goods under customs headings 8501, 8502, 8504, 8506, 8526 and 8542. Exporters working in those headings must check the current annexes before shipping.
3) Not banned but conditional: no entry without labelling and certification
Even if your product falls outside sanctions, two mandatory conditions await it at the Russian border:
- Chestny Znak mandatory labelling: in categories such as textiles, footwear, cosmetics and perfume, dairy, water and beverages, tyres and electronics, goods without a DataMatrix code cannot clear customs or be sold. The scope keeps widening in 2026, and the electronic document (EDI) requirements take effect on 1 March 2026.
- EAC / GOST conformity documents: a certificate or declaration of conformity is required for goods subject to Eurasian Economic Union technical regulations.
In practice, then, a product that is not on any “banned list” still cannot be shipped if labelling or certification is missing. That is our field: with our end-to-end labelling package we run everything from the scope check to code generation.
4) The other direction: goods banned from leaving Russia (for importers)
Since 2022 Russia has applied lists of goods banned from or subject to permission for export from its territory under Decrees 311, 312 and 313. Precious metal waste and scrap (customs headings 7112 and 8549.21/29), for example, have been subject to periodic export bans. Importers bringing goods from Russia need to follow these lists too.
A practical pre-shipment checklist
- Establish your product’s customs code.
- Cross-check it against sanctions lists and high-priority product groups, using official trade-ministry and industry-association notices.
- Check whether it is in Chestny Znak scope; if it is, complete labelling before customs.
- Confirm whether EAC / GOST documents are required.
- Confirm with your bank and logistics provider that the payment route and the shipping route both work.
If you are not sure, ask before you ship
We manage this process from inside Russia: with our Moscow office and our partners there we check your product’s status, then start, follow and complete the labelling and registration. Get in touch for a free initial assessment — let us go through your product list together, code by code.
Our other guides: Russia labelling guides.
