The European Union is contemplating financial sanctions against influential Russian figures, including Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Vladimir Medinsky, a historian close to President Vladimir Putin. This proposed sanctions list, which consists of 42 names, reflects a notable change in the EU's approach, as it has previously refrained from targeting religious leaders. Patriarch Kirill is recognized for his close ties to the Kremlin and his vocal support for the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has exacerbated divisions between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Medinsky, who has faced backlash for his revisionist views on Russian and Ukrainian history, played a role in the Kremlin's negotiations with Ukraine. The sanctions proposal requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states, with a decision expected in late June or early July. Other notable figures on the list include Arkady Dvorkovich, head of the International Chess Federation, and Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia's sports minister.