The UK government has imposed sanctions on 18 officers from Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency and three of its units for conducting a “sustained campaign of malicious cyber activity.” According to the UK Foreign Office, the sanctions target individuals allegedly acting under the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin to spread chaos across Europe.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that these activities were part of a broader Russian strategy to destabilise Europe in response to Western support for Ukraine. The action marks one of the UK’s most significant crackdowns on Russian intelligence since the 2018 Salisbury Novichok attack.
EU and UK Strengthen Sanctions to Cripple Russia’s War Economy and Oil Exports
In a coordinated effort, the European Union announced its toughest sanctions to date against Russia, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “essential and timely.” This 18th round of EU sanctions includes a ban on transactions linked to the Nord Stream pipeline and a reduction in the cap on the price of Russian oil.
The UK has aligned with the EU on this initiative, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves stating that Europe is “turning the screw on the Kremlin’s war chest.” These measures are intended to erode Russia’s financial capacity to sustain its war in Ukraine, now entering its third year.
Despite the intensified sanctions, Russian officials remain defiant. Former President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed the impact of the economic measures, asserting that Russia’s economy would withstand the pressure. He also vowed that Moscow would continue escalating its military campaign in Ukraine.
Western sanctions have struggled to fully stifle Russia’s war funding, as the country has adapted by boosting oil exports to China and India and utilizing a global “shadow fleet” of tankers to circumvent restrictions.
UK Targets Russian Cyber Units and Disinformation Campaigns in Sweeping Sanctions Announcement
In addition to military-related sanctions, the UK Foreign Office revealed that the sanctioned GRU units were involved in major operations, including cyberattacks on UK infrastructure and targeting civilians in Ukraine. One notable unit, 26165, was linked to a deadly airstrike on Mariupol’s theatre.
Intelligence officers were also sanctioned for placing spyware on Yulia Skripal’s phone, echoing past GRU involvement in the 2018 Novichok poisonings. The UK accused Russian operatives of targeting UK media, energy systems, and political bodies in a wide-reaching campaign of cyber sabotage.
As part of the same announcement, the UK also sanctioned leaders of the “African Initiative,” a Russian-backed social media campaign accused of conducting disinformation operations in West Africa. This move highlights a broader concern about Russia’s attempts to interfere in global democratic processes and spread propaganda beyond Europe.
Meanwhile, international attention remains focused on the United States, where pressure is mounting for further action. US President Donald Trump recently warned Russia of severe tariffs unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days, signaling growing impatience with the prolonged conflict.
