The United Kingdom has issued its largest fine since the imposition of sanctions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, penalizing the British subsidiary of Sabre Corp with more than £1 million.
According to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), Sabre’s UK unit continued providing the sanctioned Russian carrier Ural Airlines with access to its Global Distribution System for seven months after the airline was added to the sanctions list in 2022.
The company allegedly sought alternative payment channels, including requesting test payments to accounts outside the UK banking system, after its British bank blocked transactions.
OFSI described the actions as deliberate circumvention of sanctions and emphasized the UK’s commitment to robust enforcement in support of Ukraine. The case serves as a strong warning to businesses regarding compliance obligations.