In December this year, the Russian Federation was added to the EU's blacklist in the area of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, which in the long term should make life more difficult for those who are somehow connected with Russia. Iran has been on this list for many years. Oninvest asked Iranianist Nikita Smagin, who has lived in the Islamic Republic, to describe how life is organized for Iranians from a financial point of view.

Personal finance in Iran: how citizens live under sanctions

Chevron Corporation

Exxon Mobil Corporation

Eni S.p.A.

BP p.l.c.

TotalEnergies SE

Shell plc

In October 2025, the US imposed blocking sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil. This raised questions about the fate of their foreign assets, especially in the case of Lukoil, which is traditionally focused on international expansion. What scenarios and contenders for this company's foreign assets are currently being discussed?

How Russian company Lukoil is trying to find buyers for its foreign assets

Nikolai Storonsky, founder and CEO of the fintech bank Revolut, told in a large interview about plans for an IPO, increasing his stake in the company, and called reports about moving to Dubai a fake. He also touched upon the topic of account blocking, which was massively faced by citizens of Russia and Belarus, and explained why the bank applied sanctions to the accounts of family members of businessman Oleg Tinkov when he was blacklisted in the UK.

IPO plans, blocked accounts and Dubai: highlights from Revolut founder's interview

They will be accepted if Putin rejects the peace agreement the U.S. is discussing with Ukraine and European countries

US prepares sanctions against Russia's 'shadow fleet' - Bloomberg

The European Commission has announced that it has included Russia in the list of high-risk countries in the field of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. This is like a "black mark": European banks, brokers and other financial organizations will be obliged to intensify their scrutiny of any transactions involving this country. What will be the consequences of this decision?

The Russian Federation has been added to the EU blacklist on money laundering. This will affect not only Russians

The move, Politico points out, would oblige European financial institutions to step up scrutiny of all Russia-related transactions

EU decides to add Russia to list of countries with high risk of money laundering - Politico

Wise plc

Payment service Wise <a href="https://wise.com/help/articles/6KoVCechMSzTAHwsKoJfVQ/wise-card-restrictions-for-russian-and-belarusian-customers">announced</a> restrictions for Russians and Belarusians living in the EU. The company temporarily blocked accounts and cards for passport holders of these countries. To unblock accounts and cards, bank customers will have to confirm citizenship of the EU or Switzerland or permanent residence in them.

Wise will close the cards of Russians and Belarusians without residence permits in the EU

Many Russians living in Europe still have accounts and cards in Russian sub-sanctioned banks. But EU countries are gradually introducing <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1226/oj/eng">liability</a> for circumventing anti-Russian sanctions, which raises the question of whether having an account in such a bank and using it is considered a criminal offense. Lawyers from the EU and Russia have presented two scenarios for the application of this norm - optimistic and pessimistic.

Life in the EU and an account in the Russian sanctions bank: lawyers' opinions on risks and action plan

Exxon Mobil Oil Corporation is among the companies that are interested in international assets of Lukoil, which has fallen under U.S. sanctions, Bloomberg sources <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-18/lukoil-s-suitor-list-grows-to-include-exxon-chevron-abu-dhabi?srnd=homepage-europe&amp;sref=Y0jVLcFo">said </a>. The possibility of buying part of the Russian oil giant's foreign business is also being studied by Chevron, Reuters <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/chevron-izucaet-vozmoznost-vykupa-aktivov-popavsego-pod-sankcii-lukojla-reuters">wrote the</a> day before, also citing sources. Exxon and Chevron are considering Lukoil's stake in Iraq's West Qurna-2 field, two Bloomberg sources said.

Exxon joins Chevron as bidders for Russian Lukoil assets

On the night of November 1, citizens of Russia and Belarus living in Europe faced blocking of accounts and cards of Revolut, one of the key banks for citizens of these countries in the EU. This is not the first time that Neobank has blocked the accounts of passport holders of these countries. Oninvest spoke to two people who had previously managed to get their accounts unblocked at Revolut. In one case, the issue was solved by an official appeal to the regulator, in the second case - by uploading documents to the bank's system in the right combination.

How to get Revolut to unlock your account? Here are two success stories 

Sibanye Stillwater Limited

Lynas Rare Earths Limited

Range Resources Corporation

Active negotiations between the US and China, sanctions policy and the US shutdown determine the composition of the portfolio in November. Alexander Orlov, Managing Director of Arbat Capital, proposed a strategy that balances both investors' expectations and the results of specific companies.

Where to invest $10,000 in November: Between America and China

The largest U.S. military presence in decades is off the coast of Venezuela: two U.S. destroyers are stationed near the country's maritime borders. The U.S. claims to be fighting drug trafficking - ships suspected of carrying drugs have been struck. President Trump said "the sea is under total control, now looking at land". Venezuela says Washington is determined to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro. The country has been under US sanctions for many years, but it could have interesting investment potential if the political situation changes. Oninvest asked Alexey Golubovich and Alexander Orlov to analyze which sectors and assets are worth looking at