On Friday, 24 February, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced a new package of sanctions and trade measures against Russia, including a ban on the export of all items used by the aggressor country on the battlefield in Ukraine. The sanctions target 92 individuals and legal entities, including those associated with Rosatom. Putin's close allies, including his former chief of security and the CEO of Nord Stream 2, were also sanctioned, according to the British government's website.
Included in the hundreds of goods are aircraft parts, radio equipment, and electronic components that can be used by the Russian military industrial complex, including in the production of UAVs.
Military intelligence has shown that a shortage of components in Russia as a result of sanctions is already likely affecting their ability to produce equipment for export, such as armoured vehicles, attack helicopters and air defence systems. As a result, it is highly likely that Russia’s role as a reliable arms exporter and their military-industrial complex are being undermined by international sanctions. Today’s measures will damage them further, undermining Putin’s military.
“Today we are sanctioning the elites who run Putin’s key industries and committing to prohibit the export to Russia of every item Russia has been found using on the battlefield. Also sanctioned today are senior executives at Russian state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom, plus executives from Russia’s 2 largest defence companies, 4 banks, and other Russian elites,” Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.
Rosatom has deep connections to the Russian military-industrial complex, including through Alexander Novak, who is both a member of the supervisory board and the Deputy Prime Minister in Putin’s administration.
The state-owned firm has reportedly been supplying arms manufacturers with the technology and materials needed to resupply Russia’s front line, including to defence firms that are under sanctions.
Four banks, including MTS, are also being sanctioned as part of today’s package. This will further isolate Russia from the international financial system and help the UK and partners to prevent circumvention.
Today’s designations also target the individuals and entities at the heart of Putin’s military-industrial complex, including:
- 34 executives connected to Russia’s 2 largest defence companies Rostec, Russia’s multi-billion state-owned defence conglomerate, and Almaz-Antey Corporation, a state-owned Russian company specialising in producing surface-to-air missiles and firearms for aircraft
- 6 Russian entities involved in the manufacture or repair of military equipment for Russia’s armed forces, including aviation and navy
- 5 senior Iranian executives in Qods Aviation Industry, the company manufacturing the drones used in Ukraine, which demonstrates our commitment to continue to pressure third countries supplying Russia’s military.
The UK is also announcing new major trade measures, undermining Russia’s military machine and cutting at Putin’s finances. Alongside banning exports of products found used by Russia on the battlefield, the UK will also ban the import of 140 goods including iron and steel products processed in third countries.
According to Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, trade sanctions are working. UK goods imports from Russia have fallen by 99%, since before the invasion, and goods exports to Russia have fallen by nearly 80%. Working together with the G7 international partners, the Department for Business and Trade is delivering sanctions to further erode Putin’s capabilities to wage war against Ukraine. “We will back Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The UK has also announced that it will be extending existing measures against Crimea, and non-government controlled territory in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, to target Russian-controlled areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions, restricting their access to UK trade and finance.
Today’s measures also increase pressure on the Russian elite. This includes sanctions on:
- Mattias Warnig: a close friend of Putin’s, the CEO of Nord Stream 2, and previously a member of the boards of Russian energy companies Transneft and Rosneft
- Lyubov Kabaeva: mother of former Russian gymnast and Duma Deputy Alina Kabaeva who allegedly has a close personal relationship with Putin. The Kabaeva family reportedly own millions of pounds’ worth of property in Russia
- Alexey Dyumin: formerly Putin’s chief security guard who played a key role in the annexation of Crimea. Dyumin has been actively involved in supporting the Russian military in Ukraine, including launching and facilitating a drone training school for Russian troops
- Alexey Kozak: son of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Putin ally Dmitriy Kozak
- 20 executives of Gazprom and Aeroflot, including Gazprom Chairman and former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and 2 current Russian ministers.