Today's decision by foreign ministers from the 28-nation bloc came days after a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people aboard.
The Netherlands' Frans Timmermans said the EU's "forceful decision" imposes visa bans and asset freezes on more officials.
He says the ministers also asked the 28-nation bloc's executive arm to prepare for more forceful economic sanctions, including targeting the arms, energy and financial sectors if Russia fails to back down from destabilising Ukraine.