UK Hits Russia’s Shadow Fleet and Disinformation Networks With New Sanctions

Britain has imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Russia, targeting 23 individuals and entities and eight ships in what the government describes as a strike on the oil revenues sustaining Moscow’s war in Ukraine and on the networks spreading Kremlin disinformation.

The package, announced on Thursday, hits the so-called shadow fleet of vessels Russia uses to circumvent existing sanctions, according to Reuters. Three alleged shadow-fleet tankers, two ships providing them with bunkering services and three Russian-owned ice-class vessels face shipping and trade sanctions, with London noting that some of the ships were acquired as recently as July.

Beyond oil revenue, the measures target individuals accused of the arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian civilians, as well as those blamed for the indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children, Reuters reported.

Seven people were also sanctioned for pro-Kremlin disinformation, including four Georgian nationals, according to the UK government, which says Moscow spends around £1.3 billion a year manipulating information.

“We are targeting both the revenues that help sustain Russia’s aggression and perpetrators of horrendous crimes against Ukrainian civilians, including children,” Europe Minister Lord Wood of Anfield said, in comments carried by The Independent.

The 23 designated individuals and entities face asset freezes and travel bans, and the government says Britain has now sanctioned more than 3,400 targets since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Sources

• GOV.UK
• Reuters