The British government announced on Friday the imposition of 100 new sanctions on Russia aimed at cutting off President Putin’s war funding and military supplies sources. The newly appointed British Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, visited Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky, showcasing support for Ukraine through this visit.
These sanctions cover two main areas: first, targeting the transportation of Russian oil and the “shadow fleet” that circumvents price controls and maritime regulations. Britain added 70 oil tankers to the sanctions list in a single day, surpassing other countries in the number of designated vessels. The second area involves intermediaries and individuals from third countries providing key electronic components, chemicals, and explosives for Russian missiles and drones.
Named suppliers include the Shenzhen Blue Hat International Trade Co., Ltd. based in China, and its two Russian co-owners Elena Malitckaia and Alexey Malitskiy, as well as Mastel Makina Ithalat Ihracat Limited Sirketi in Turkey and its Azerbaijani CEO Shanlik Shukurov. These electronic components are widely used in Iskander ballistic missiles, Kh-101 cruise missiles, and Russian military drones.
Throughout this year, the UK has expanded designations and sanctions on the “shadow fleet.” On July 21, Britain added 135 oil tankers transporting Russian oil to the sanctions list, targeting relevant registrations and trading platforms. The latest addition of 70 tankers reflects the ongoing tightening of policies to prevent Russian energy cash flows overflow.
According to reports from Reuters, the UK also announced an additional £142 million (approximately $193 million) in aid to Ukraine, including £100 million in humanitarian assistance and £42 million for repairing and protecting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure damaged by Russian military strikes.
The British government highlighted that in the past two weeks, Russian forces conducted the largest scale air strikes since the beginning of the current war in Ukraine, launching over 800 missiles and drones in a single night. They noted that in July alone, Russia targeted Ukraine with 6,500 missiles and drones, ten times the amount from a year ago. Recent airstrikes in Kyiv damaged the Ukrainian Cabinet building, the offices of the British Council and the European Union delegation.
From September 10 to 11, Russian-made drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace at night, prompting Poland to activate NATO’s Article 4 consultation mechanism. NATO fighter jets were scrambled in response. The Kremlin denied the allegations, but Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine characterized it as an “unprecedented provocation.”
Foreign Secretary Cooper stated that the UK will not stand by as Putin continues his “barbaric aggression,” emphasizing that increasing economic pressure on Russia and cutting off its war funding will go hand in hand with support for Ukrainian security. She announced cooperation with the United States, Ukraine, and around 30 other countries in the “Coalition of the Willing” to provide military aid to Ukraine, aiming to achieve a “just and lasting peace.”
The announcement of these sanctions coincided with Cooper’s first visit to Kyiv since taking office. According to information on the UK government website, Cooper was appointed as the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on September 5, taking over responsibilities for sanctions against Russia and Ukraine-related policies. Former Foreign Secretary David Lammy was reassigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary.