The UK Foreign Office announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on 1 October. It covers 23 individuals and entities and eight vessels.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the package is aimed at restricting funding for the war, putting pressure on networks that London describes as pro-Kremlin disinformation, and targeting people the British authorities accuse of torturing Ukrainian civilians and of indoctrinating and militarising Ukrainian children, including those taken away by the Russian authorities. The decision was announced against the backdrop of British figures showing that in September Russia used more than 3,100 jet-powered drones against Ukraine — more than in August.
The list includes eight people whom London links to the arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian civilians, and another seven linked to the “indoctrination and militarisation” of children. Separately, restrictions were imposed on seven people, including four Georgian nationals, whom the British authorities accuse of spreading pro-Kremlin narratives, including justifying the occupation of Ukrainian territory and serving in structures installed by Russia in South Ossetia. Russian media name South Ossetian president Marat Kambolov and Alan Gagloev among those listed, as well as Singapore-based Novatek Gas & Power Asia Pte. Ltd, linked to Novatek.
The 23 individuals and entities face asset freezes, trust-services restrictions and a ban on serving as directors; individuals also face travel bans. The eight vessels are subject to trade and shipping sanctions. According to the government, these are three so-called shadow-fleet vessels, two vessels providing them with bunkering services, and three Russian-owned ice-class vessels. London says Russia is circumventing earlier restrictions by switching vessels, and that some of the newly targeted ships were acquired as recently as July. Vessels named in reports include the Arctic LNG carriers Aleksey Kosygin, Konstantin Posyet and Pyotr Stolypin.
