The Impact of Economic Sanctions of the EU and the USA on the Economic Security of the Russian Federation: Historical Context and Current Effects
https://doi.org/10.26794/2587-5671-2026-30-5-77-96
Abstract
In the context of escalating geopolitical tensions, economic sanctions are becoming one of the main instruments of external pressure on countries that do not follow the recommendations of Western countries. The imposition of restrictions by the European Union and the United States on the Russian Federation in 2014, and especially after February 2022, has had a significant impact on various sectors of the Russian economy. The sanctions have affected the financial system, foreign economic activity, and access to high technologies and international capital markets. International economic sanctions are a tool of coercive diplomacy, designed to create sufficient economic costs to encourage the recipient country to encourage them to reconsider its policy. The aim of the study is to systematically analyze the impact of restrictive measures imposed by the United States and the European Union on the economic security of the Russian Federation. This will be achieved through a comparative analysis of historical context of the sanctions and an evaluation of their current effects. The primary attention of this work was on the structural transformation of the national economy, reorientation of foreign trade flows, and the role of monetary factors in stimulating business activity. The main types of measures that have been implemented are considered, as well as vulnerable areas of the economy that have been identified. Additionally, adaptation mechanisms developed by the state to minimize negative consequences have been discussed. Special attention has been paid to Russia’s response measures, such as transitioning to settlements in national currencies, developing import substitution, and diversifying trading partners. It has been concluded that, despite significant pressure, the Russian economy has demonstrated a certain level of resilience thanks to active government intervention and restructuring of foreign economic relations. Nevertheless, the long-term consequences of the sanctions regime require constant monitoring and improvement of the country’s economic security strategy.
About the Authors
O. G. TimchukRussian Federation
Oksana G. Timchuk — Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof., Department of Economics and digital business technologies
Irkutsk
Competing Interests:
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
M. V. Vikhoreva
Russian Federation
Mariya V. Vikhoreva — Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof., Departament of Economics and Management of Railways Transport
Irkutsk
Competing Interests:
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Yu. V. Veselova
Russian Federation
Yulia V. Veselova — Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof., Department of Economics and Management
Samara
Competing Interests:
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
O. B. Yambaeva
Russian Federation
Oksana B. Yambaeva — Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof., Department of Enterprise Economics and Entrepreneurial Activity
Irkutsk
Competing Interests:
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
References
1. Kaygorodtsev A. A. Impact of sanctions on Russia’s economic security. Ekonomicheskaya bezopasnost’ = Economic Security. 2023;6(2):479-496. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.18334/ecsec. 6.2.117685
2. Mikheeva I. V., Loginova A. S. “Every cloud has a silver lining”, or what do economic sanctions mean to Russia? Finance: Theory and Practice. 2016;20(6):78-84. DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2016-20-6-78-84
3. Lebedev A. S. Anti- Russian sanctions in global economic warfare. Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta = MGIMO Review of International Relations. 2022;15(6):26-35. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.24833/2071-8160-2022-6-87-26-35
4. Mukhametshin R. I., Skrypnik D. V. Assessing the impact of sanctions on the dynamics of the Russian economy from 2022 to 2024. Ekonomicheskaya politika = Economic Policy. 2026;21(4):94-109. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.18288/1994-5124-2026-4-94-109
5. Balatsky E. V. Russia’s damage from international sanctions: Rethinking the facts. Mir novoi ekonomiki = The World of New Economy. 2018;12(3):36-45. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.26794/2220-6469-2018-12-3-36-45
6. Hufbauer G. C. Nicholas Mulder: The economic weapon: The rise of sanctions as a tool of modern war. Business Economics. 2023;58(2):118-120. DOI: 10.1057/s11369-022-00300-4
7. Geraskina A. R. The impact of anti- Russian sanctions on the global economy and contemporary international economic relations. Ekonomicheskie otnosheniya = Journal of International Economic Affairs. 2023;13(2):221-236. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.18334/eo.13.2.117900
8. Fedorova E. A., Nevredinov A. R. Impact of sanctions on industry indices. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2024;28(6):17-33. DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2024-28-6-17-33
9. Marchuk V. I., Myakisheva K. V., Veretennikova A. V. Sanctions against Russia. Nauchno- metodicheskii elektronnyi zhurnal “Kontsept” = Scientific and Methodological Electronic Journal “Concept”. 2014;26(1):101-105. URL: http://e-koncept.ru/2014/64321.htm (accessed on 08.09.2026). (In Russ.).
10. Golovin A. A., Golovin A. A., Kovpak O. V. Historical aspects of economic sanctions on the world stage. In: Science in modern society: Patterns and trends of development. Proc. Int. sci.-pract. conf. (Orenburg, November 10, 2017). Vol. Pt. 1. Ufa: Aeterna; 2017:52-54. URL: https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_30619107_69244820. pdf (accessed on 09.09.2026). (In Russ.).
11. Fedotova M. A., Pogodina T. V., Karpova S. V. Assessment of trends and prospects for the development of the Russian economy in the context of sanctions pressure. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2025;29(1):6-19. DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2025-29-1-6-19
12. Egorov V., Litvinova N. Sanctions in the domestic historical process. Postsovetskii materik = Post-S oviet Continent. 2019;(3):117-134. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sanktsii-v-otechestvenno-istoricheskomprotsesse (accessed on 09.09.2026). (In Russ.).
13. Cheban T. A. Application of state regulation instruments for the Russian Federation’s foreign economic relations system under sanctions pressure. Vestnik evraziiskoi nauki = The Eurasian Scientific Journal. 2025;17(1):9-13. URL: https://esj.today/PDF/08ECVN125.pdf (In Russ.).
14. Simbiryova M. V. The key rate of the Bank of Russia under sanctions. Innovatsionnaya nauka = Innovation Science. 2024;(6-1):118-119. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/klyuchevaya-stavka-ba (accessed on 09.09.2026). (In Russ.).
15. Zaytsev Yu. K. The impact of the sanctions regime on foreign direct investments in Russia. Vestnik Rossiiskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Ekonomika = RUDN Journal of Economics. 2018;26(4):760-772. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.22363/2313-2329-2018-26-4-760-772
16. Freis J. H., Waibel M. The United States-led development of financial sanctions since 1945. In: Zilioli Ch., Bismuth R., Thévenoz L., eds. International sanctions: Monetary and financial law perspectives. Leiden: Brill; 2024:48-71. DOI: 10.1163/9789004705708_004
17. Akhapkin N. Yu. Russian economy under sanctions: Dynamics and structural changes. Vestnik Instituta ekonomiki Rossiiskoi akademii nauk = Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2023;(6):7-25. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.52180/2073-6487_2023_6_7_25
18. Egorchenkov D. A., Danyuk N. S. Sanctions as a tool for the coercion of states: Ideological aspect. Gumanitarnye nauki. Vestnik Finansovogo universiteta = Humanities and Social Sciences. Bulletin of the Financial University. 2018;8(6):49-57. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.26794/2226-7867-2018-8-6-49-57
19. Meshkova A. P., Vostrikova E. O., Verkhovets O. A. International economic sanctions: Efficiency issues. Vestnik Omskogo universiteta. Seriya: Ekonomika = Herald of Omsk University. Series: Economics. 2017;(2):54-62. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.24147/1812-3988.2017.2.54-62
20. Narbut V. V., Shpakovskaya E. P. Russia’s foreign trade trends under sanctions. Vestnik Instituta ekonomiki Rossiiskoi akademii nauk = Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2023;(2):131148. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.52180/2073-6487_2023_2_131_148
21. Stegny P. V. The Board of Foreign Affairs under Katherine II. Vestnik Rossiiskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya = Vestnik RUDN. International Relations. 2002;(1):528. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/kollegiya-inostrannyh-del-v-period-pravleniya-ekaterinyii?ysclid=mtwx88gi27442668732 (accessed on 09.09.2026). (In Russ.).
22. Shifrina D. E. Historical aspects of sanctions pressure against Russia: From the middle ages to the present day. Progressivnaya ekonomika = Progressive Economy. 2024;7(1):184-194. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.54861/27131211_2024_7_184
23. Glaz’ev S. Yu. Problems and prospects of the Russian financial market in the context of structural changes in the world economy. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2020;24(3):6-29. DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2020-24-3-6-29
24. Moiseev V. V., Trut V. P., Sivachenko L. A. Anti- Russian sanctions: History and modernity. Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya 4: Istoriya. Regionovedenie. Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya = Science Journal of Volgograd State University. History. Area Studies. International Relations. 2024;29(2):183-192. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15688/jvolsu4.2024.2.16
25. Wang Y. Analysis of the impact of sanctions on Russia’s economic security: Challenges and opportunities. Finansy i upravlenie = Finance and Management. 2024;(4):181-202. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.25136/24097802.2024.4.72030
26. Perekhod S. A., Mkhitaryan A. V., Selifonkina D. S. International sanctions against Russia (2014–2024): Assessment and implications for the financial market. Vestnik Instituta ekonomiki Rossiiskoi akademii nauk = Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2024;(4):116-138. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.52180/2073-6487_2024_4_116_138
27. Grinberg R. S., Belozyorov S. A., Sokolovska O. Effectiveness of economic sanctions: Assessment by means of a systematic literature review. Ekonomika regiona = Economy of Regions. 2021;17(2):354-374. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17059/ekon.reg.2021-2-1
28. Kazantsev S. V. Sanctions and foreign direct investment: Damage to Russia and sanctioning countries. Mir novoi ekonomiki = The World of New Economy. 2020;14(1):44-53. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.26794/2220-6469-2020-14-1-44-53
29. Zemtsov S. P., Voloshinskaya A. A. Russian regional resilience under sanctions. Zhurnal Novoi ekonomicheskoi assotsiatsii = Journal of the New Economic Association. 2024;(3):54-83. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31737/22212264_2024_3_54-83
30. Safiullin M. R., Elshin L. A. Sanctions pressure on the Russian economy: Ways to overcome the costs and benefits of confrontation within the framework of import substitution. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2023;27(1):150-161. DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2023-27-1-150-161
31. Kazantsev S. V. Anti- Russian sanctions impact areas. Mir novoi ekonomiki = The World of New Economy. 2024;18(1):27-44. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.26794/2220-6469-2024-18-1-27-44
32. Seliverstov Yu.I., Chizhova E. N. Russia should oppose import substitution and innovation to Western sanctions. Vestnik Altaiskoi akademii ekonomiki i prava = Journal of Altai Academy of Economics and Law. 2022;(5-3):442-449. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17513/vaael.2231
33. Popova I. N., Sergeeva T. L. Import substitution in modern Russia: Problems and prospects. Beneficium. 2022;(2):73-84. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.34680/BENEFICIUM.2022.2(43).73-84
34. Makarycheva I. V. Problems of import substitution in Russia. Ekonomicheskie otnosheniya = Journal of International Economic Affairs. 2022;12(3):389-406. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.18334/eo.12.3.114889
35. Simachev Yu.V., Fedyunina A. A., Kuzyk M. G. New contours of industrial policy. Rept. to the 23rd Yasin (April) Int. sci. conf. on problems of economic and social development. Moscow: HSE; 2022. 73 p. URL: https://indpolicy.hse.ru/mirror/pubs/share/863520529.pdf?ysclid=mtwxsoaef7743667124 (accessed on 09.09.2026). (In Russ.).
36. Malkina M.Yu., Balakin R. V. Trends in the Russian economy development during the new anti-R ussian sanctions. Russian Journal of Economics and Law. 2024;18(2):287-313. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.21202/2782-2923.2024.2.287-313
37. Malkina M. Yu. Stress in the real economy of Russian regions under the pandemic and sanctions. Ekonomika regiona = Economy of Regions. 2024;20(1):16-32. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17059/ekon.reg.2024-1-2
38. Shkodinsky S. V., Kushnir A. M., Prodchenko I. A. The impact of sanctions on Russia’s technological sovereignty. Problemy rynochnoi ekonomiki = Market Economy Problems. 2022;(2):75-96. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.33051/2500-2325-2022-2-75-96
Review
For citations:
Timchuk O.G., Vikhoreva M.V., Veselova Yu.V., Yambaeva O.B. The Impact of Economic Sanctions of the EU and the USA on the Economic Security of the Russian Federation: Historical Context and Current Effects. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2026;30(5):77-96. https://doi.org/10.26794/2587-5671-2026-30-5-77-96
JATS XML


































