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Russia's GRU Spies Sanctioned by UK for Mariupol Bombing and Cyber Attacks on Western Targets
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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The UK has imposed new sanctions on Russian military intelligence officers linked to the bombing of the Mariupol Theatre and cyber attacks against Western targets.
These measures, announced on July 18 by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, target three GRU (Russian military Intelligence) units and 18 individuals responsible for actions on behalf of Russian leader Putin, Politico reports.
The sanctioned units were involved in the 2022 Mariupol Theatre attack, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Ukrainian civilians. Unit 26165, in particular, carried out reconnaissance to aid missile strikes, including the deadly bombing of the Mariupol Theatre, where civilians had sought refuge.
The attack on Mariupol Theater is believed to have killed up to 600 people, according to an Associated Press investigation. This unit is also responsible for numerous cyber attacks, including on the German Bundestag in 2015, the US Democratic National Committee in 2016, and French systems ahead of the 2024 Olympics, Politico claims.
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Another Russian military unit, Unit 29155, has been accused of deploying “WhisperGate,” a wiper malware, on over 70 Ukrainian government systems in the lead-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This attack was part of Russia’s broader cyber campaign aimed at destabilizing Ukraine.
In addition to military units, the UK sanctioned “African Initiative,” a Russian-backed disinformation group, for spreading misinformation in West Africa, undermining public health efforts with false conspiracy theories.
The new sanctions also target the operatives responsible for infecting the phone of Yulia Skripal, the daughter of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, with malware five years prior to the attempted assassination of the Skripals using the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury, England, in 2018.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, “We see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won’t tolerate it.” The sanctions will freeze assets and impose travel bans on those targeted.
NATO allies have backed the UK’s decision, condemning Russia’s cyber activities as a direct threat to allied security.
Earlier, it was reported that four Chinese nationals were arrested in Greece for photographing Rafale jets at a military base.
