The United Kingdom has announced a package of 31 sanctions against Russia, stepping up economic pressure ahead of the winter and targeting the revenue streams, disinformation networks, and personnel sustaining Moscow’s war effort.
The package comprises 23 individuals and entities and eight ships, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office . Those designated will face asset freezes, trust services sanctions and director disqualification sanctions, while individuals will also be subject to travel bans. The vessels face shipping and trade sanctions.
Torture and Indoctrination of Ukrainian Civilians
Eight individuals were sanctioned for their involvement in the arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian civilians in Russia’s occupied territories. Among them:
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Viktor Leonidovich Bedrik (БЕДРИК Виктор Леонидович) — Military Commandant of the Kherson Region under the Russian occupation administration, accused of directing and participating in unlawful detention and torture through the occupation military commandant’s office.
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Nurlan Amantaevich Abulkhaev (АБУЛХАЕВ Нурлан Амантаевич) — Chief of staff and deputy battalion commander of the 2nd Motor Rifle Battalion, 4th Guards Military Base, 58th Combined Arms Army; rank of major, call sign “Kadet.”
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Yan Vyacheslav Zanevsky (ЗАНЕВСКИЙ Ян Вячеславович) — Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer.
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Aleksandr Sergeevich Chichkan (Чичкан Александр Сергеевич) — served in the Russian military commandant’s office in the Kherson region.
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Viktor Alexandrovich Aivazov (АЙВАЗОВ Виктор Александрович) — Russian police warrant officer and head of a section of a guard and convoy battalion.
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Nikolay Ivanovich Dereza (Дереза Николай Иванович) — officer in the occupation detention system in Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region.
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Viktor Valerievich Chudak (Чудак Виктор Валериевич) — head of the occupation police in Kamianka-Dniprovska, Zaporizhzhia region.
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Alexander Alexandrovich Fomin (Фомин Александр Александрович) — head of a detention facility in Kamianka-Dniprovska.
A further seven individuals were targeted for their role in the indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children, including those forcibly deported by Russian authorities. The UK estimates that approximately 6,000 Ukrainian children have been relocated to so-called “re-education” camps.
Those sanctioned include:
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Elena Igorevna Milskaya (Мильская Елена Игоревна) — Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Centre for Assistance to Missing and Injured Children.
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Denis Sergeyevich Chernobay (Чернобай Денис Сергеевич) — Chairman of the “Movement of the First” of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.
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Ruyal Asif Oghlu Aliyev (Алиев Руял Асиф Оглы) — Chair of the Council of the Regional Branch of the “Movement of the First” in the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic.
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Aleksey Igorevich Lavrentyev (Лаврентьев Алексей Игоревич) — Chairman of the Council of the Regional Branch of the “Movement of the First” in Kherson region.
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Viktoriya Olegovna Kostromina (Костромина Виктория Олеговна) — Chair of the Council of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Branch of the “Movement of the First.”
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Ekaterina Alexandrovna Kozyr (Козырь Екатерина Александровна) — Chairwoman of the Council of the Regional Branch of the “Movement of the First” for the Republic of Crimea.
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Artur Valerevich Orlov (Орлов Артур Валерьевич) — sanctioned for supporting the forced deportation and re-education programme.
Disinformation Networks Targeted
Seven individuals — including four Georgian nationals — were sanctioned for spreading pro-Kremlin disinformation, from legitimising Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory to serving in Russian-installed authorities in occupied South Ossetia. They include:
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Mamuka Pipia (Мамука Пипия) — International Secretary of the Georgian party “Solidarity for Peace,” who led a delegation that met with the head of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” and publicised the visit.
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Giorgi Iremadze (Георгий Иремадзе) — member of the Political Council of “Solidarity for Peace” and founder of the Union of Young Eurasianists of Georgia.
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze (Николоз Мжаванадзе) — founder of Sezoni TV.
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Paata Abuladze (Паата Абуладзе) — Georgian political and military observer.
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Sergey Aleksandrovich Tolmachev (Сергей Александрович Толмачев) — former “Deputy Governor” of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region and former “Deputy Governor” of occupied Sevastopol.
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Alan Eduardovich Gagloev (Алан Эдуардович Гаглоев) — Advisor to President Vladimir Putin and former de-facto “President” of South Ossetia (2022–2026).
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Marat Arkadyevich Kambolov (Марат Аркадьевич Камболов) — served as a director or manager of the Kurchatov Institute between 2015 and 2025, an entity operating in the Russian energy sector.
LNG Shadow Fleet and Arctic Vessels
The package targets Russia’s attempts to build a new LNG shadow fleet, designating eight vessels: three shadow fleet ships, two vessels providing bunkering services to them, and three Russian-owned ice-class vessels . Some entered service as recently as July this year.
The sanctioned vessels include the LNG tankers Aleksey Kosygin (IMO 9904546), Konstantin Posiet (IMO 9904704), and Pyotr Stolypin (IMO 9904675).
The entity Novatek Gas and Power Asia Pte Ltd was also designated for carrying on business in the Russian energy sector, a sector of strategic significance to the Russian government.
“The UK Will Not Flinch”
Minister for Europe Lord Wood of Anfield said: “We are targeting both the revenues that help sustain Russia’s aggression and perpetrators of horrendous crimes against Ukrainian civilians, including children. The UK will not flinch in our support for Ukraine”.
The announcement comes as Russia fired over 3,100 jet-powered drones into Ukraine in September alone, outstripping its previous wartime record set in August . In the past week, drone and missile strikes killed at least 44 civilians and injured a further 315.
The UK has now sanctioned nearly 600 tankers connected to Russia’s shadow fleet, and international sanctions have deprived Russia of nearly $500 billion in funding for its war effort .
