UK Unveils Largest Sanctions Package Against Russia’s Defense Sector in a Year

The United Kingdom has imposed the biggest new package of sanctions against Russia’s defense sector and Kremlin-linked mercenary groups operating in Africa. With 56 new designations, this is the UK’s most extensive sanctions action since May 2023, according to a United Kingdom government press service on November 7.

The sanctions aim to cut off essential supplies for Russia’s military industry and expose the operations of Russian-backed private military groups, specifically targeting the Africa Corps, a Russian proxy force active in destabilizing efforts across the African continent.

The UK is the first G7 country to directly sanction this group, underscoring the global reach of its sanctions strategy.

“These sanctions further diminish the Kremlin’s ability to destabilize Europe and threaten global security while bolstering efforts to block critical supplies for Putin’s war machine,” said UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

“Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he expected to be over in a matter of days. He will fail, and we will stand by Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”

The sanctions target a range of individuals and entities across various countries, including companies in China, Turkey, and Central Asia that supply critical materials like microelectronics, machine tools, and drone components to Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Additionally, the UK-sanctioned GRU operatives linked to the infamous Novichok attack in Salisbury reflected the broader scope of the UK’s stance against Russian aggression.

This action precedes today’s European Political Community Summit in Budapest, where UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss collaborative European efforts to counter Russian malign activities and reiterate UK support for Ukraine.

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The package also imposes sanctions on three private mercenary companies affiliated with the Kremlin, which have been implicated in human rights abuses in countries like Libya, Mali, and the Central African Republic.

These groups, including Bears Brigade, PMC Espanila, and the Africa Corps, are known to exploit local conflicts and resource-rich regions, destabilizing countries for Kremlin-aligned interests.

Today’s sanctions follow a month of intensified UK measures against Russia, including actions against Russian “shadow fleet” networks, cybercriminal groups, and Kremlin propaganda outlets.

Earlier, the United Kingdom introduced 46 new sanctions against Russia, including measures targeting individuals associated with the Wagner Group.