UK Enacts Major Sanctions Against Russian Entities Amid Ongoing War in Ukraine
On November 7, Britain announced its most comprehensive sanctions package against Russia in the past 18 months, targeting 56 individuals and organizations linked to what the UK calls Moscow's war machine. The punitive measures are particularly focused on mercenary groups operating in Africa and a specific individual involved in the infamous 2018 Novichok attack.
This significant announcement aligns with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s upcoming discussions in Budapest with European leaders, where he aims to devise strategies for countering Russian hostile activities in Europe while reaffirming the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine, as stated by the Foreign Office.
The sanctions are intended to disrupt crucial supplies of military equipment for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts and to clamp down on Russian malign influence globally. The Foreign Office emphasized that these actions also seek to expose the corrupt operations of Russian proxy military groups on the African continent.
Among the mercenary groups sanctioned are Africa Corps, Bears Brigade, and PMC Espanola. Notably, Africa Corps is the successor to the infamous Wagner Group, which was previously led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Putin. Following Prigozhin's death last year after a brief mutiny, Africa Corps has intensified Wagner's operations across various African nations, including Libya, the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where they have reportedly supported military dictatorships.
The UK government asserts that these sanctions will undermine Russian operations in Libya, Mali, and the CAR, with the intent of exposing and combating illicit practices as Russia seeks to take advantage of fragile security environments and natural resources in these regions to extend its influence.
Additionally, sanctions were placed on Denis Sergeyev, a Russian military intelligence officer implicated in the attempted assassination of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England, using the nerve agent Novichok. In March 2018, Sergei and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a park bench after being targeted by a military intelligence attack, where Novichok had been applied to their home’s door handle. Fortunately, both Skripals survived, although a local woman tragically died after coming into contact with the poison.
The newly issued sanctions also extend to 28 entities situated in China, Turkey, and Central Asia, accused of providing machinery and components critical for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy asserted that these measures are a critical step in curtailing the Kremlin’s destabilizing foreign policy, aiming to disrupt Russia’s attempts to exploit conflicts and raise instability across Africa. He reinforced the British government’s commitment, stating, "Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would be short. He will fail, and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom."
This latest round of sanctions marks another moment in the ongoing struggle between Western powers and Russia amid the prolonged conflict in Ukraine, illustrating the UK’s steadfast resolve to counter aggression and maintain international order.
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