BRUSSELS, October 7. /TASS/. EU ambassadors greenlit the 22nd sanction package to comprise over 1,500 companies and individuals linked to the Russian defense sector, a European source told TASS.

"The ambassadors approved blacklisting over 1,500 companies and individuals," he said.

The package is expected to be approved by the EU Council and come into force by the end of this week.

The source confirmed that "defense and other" companies and individuals from a number of countries were added to the sanction list. The EU alleges these companies produce "dual-use goods."

The new package does not include significant trade and economic restrictions but will be the largest since the start of the special military operation in terms of the number of legal entities and individuals blacklisted simultaneously. Up to now, over 3,000 Russian plants and individuals were included into the EU special designations list in more than twenty sanction packages approved during four years.

The sanctions imply the ban on entering the EU, the assets freeze in the EU, and also the assets freeze and the complete prohibition for any joint activity for EU residents in respect of legal entities.