UK Announces Massive Sanctions Package to Cripple Russia's Military Efforts

The UK has announced a new “massive package of sanctions that will cripple Russia’s military efforts.”

“These sanctions target the vessels, the money and the actors propping up Russia’s war economy, and in turn, threatening European security,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

Russian Banks Sanctioned: Yandex Bank & Wildberries Bank

Among the key targets, the UK imposed sanctions on Russian Yandex Bank and Wildberries Bank. The first is connected with the Russian Yandex search engine, while the second is linked to Wildberries, one of Russia’s largest online marketplaces.

UK Sanctions Target GRU Officers & Russian Military Intelligence Network

According to the British government, the new sanctions are also aimed at the Russian military intelligence network, the center of which is a front company of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (the foreign intelligence agency of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation).

Sanctioned entities include Neptun Co Ltd., LLC, which “participates in the secret purchase of Western technologies for the Russian army.” In addition, 10 GRU officers suspected of acquiring military technology were also sanctioned.

Sanctions Extend to Suppliers from China, Thailand & Turkey

In other countries, the sanctions affected suppliers of military equipment from China, Thailand and Turkey.

Several organizations that help Russia illegally transfer money, bypassing Western sanctions, were also sanctioned, including one organization in Nigeria that supports a scheme to circumvent sanctions — specifically, the A7 payment system.

UK Expands Sanctions Against Russia’s Shadow Fleet

The new sanctions have also hit Russia’s “shadow fleet” , through which Russia supplies oil and petroleum products. 27 tankers were added to the UK sanctions list.

The full list of companies and individuals sanctioned is available on the UK government’s website.