Britain has announced more sanctions against Russia to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, including banning exports of every item it uses on the battlefield.
Britain’s Foreign Office said on Friday that internationally coordinated sanctions and trade measures would target aircraft spare parts, radios, and electronic components.
It is also targeting more Russian executives, including those from the nuclear power company Rosatom and others working in the defence sector and Russian banks, as well as Putin’s closest allies.
“Military intelligence has reported that a shortage of components in Russia as a result of the sanctions is already likely to affect its ability to produce equipment for export, such as armoured vehicles, attack helicopters, and air defence systems,” the State Department added.
The leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations will meet on Friday via the Internet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and they are expected to discuss further sanctions against Russia.
The British sanctions targeted the CEO of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, who is close to Putin.
The British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said on Friday that the package of new sanctions and internationally coordinated trade measures includes hundreds of goods, aircraft parts, and electronic components that could be used by Russia’s military-industrial complex, including for the production of drones.
Military intelligence showed that a shortage of components in Russia as a result of the sanctions may already affect its ability to produce equipment for export, such as armoured vehicles, attack helicopters, and air defence systems. As a result, it is very likely that Russia’s role as an arms exporter and its military-industrial complex will be undermined by international sanctions.
“Today’s actions will further harm them (Russia), undermining Putin’s military machine, which is already forced to stock Soviet-era tanks for low-quality chips,” according to a statement posted on the UK’s Treasury website.
“The Ukrainians stand up to Russia, but they can’t do it alone.” “That’s why we must do more to help Ukraine win,” said Secretary of State James Cleverly.
“Today we are imposing sanctions on the elites that run key industries for Putin, and we are committing to banning exports to Russia for every item that Russia is found to be using on the battlefield.”
Sanctions were also imposed on the top executives of Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Rosatom, as well as executives from Russia’s two largest defence companies, four banks, and other Russian elites.
Rosatom has deep ties to the Russian military-industrial complex through Alexander Novak, who is at the same time a member of the supervisory board and deputy prime minister in Putin’s administration.
The state-owned company has reportedly been providing arms manufacturers with technology and materials to resupply Russia’s frontline, including sanctioned defence firms.
Four other banks, including MTS, were also sanctioned as part of today’s sanctions package. This will further isolate Russia from the international financial system.
