UK sanctions 386 Russian politicians as Abramovich empire crumbles

Britain has frozen assets of those who recognised breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of his government in Moscow. AP

Britain has sanctioned 386 Russian politicians who backed President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, a day after hitting Roman Abramovich with asset freezes and a travel ban.

The Foreign Office on Friday unveiled the latest round of the UK’s sanctions on Russia.

Hundreds of politicians who voted to recognise the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent have been hit by punitive measures, including a ban on travel to the UK and the freezing of assets.

Russian authorities on February 21 ratified treaties which recognised the independence of the regions which have been occupied by Russian-backed separatists since 2014. They also authorised Russian troops to enter the Ukrainian territory, only days before a full-scale invasion of the country was launched.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said those politicians were directly responsible for Russia's "barbaric war" against Ukraine.

"We’re targeting those complicit in Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war," she said. "We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions.

"Together with our allies, we stand firmly beside our Ukrainian friends. We will continue to support Ukraine with humanitarian aid, defensive weapons and diplomatic work to isolate Russia internationally."

About 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the attack was launched, the UN's refugee agency said on Friday.

Russian-Israeli billionaire and Chelsea FC owner Mr Abramovich was sanctioned on Thursday, along with six oligarchs linked to the Kremlin.

The government said those targeted had “blood on their hands” from the attack on Ukraine.

Mr Abramovich last week announced he was selling the football club and the "net proceeds" would be donated to Ukrainian war victims.

But the sale has now been put on hold due to the sanctions.

Chelsea can continue to operate but under strict conditions designed to prevent the club generating new revenue which could benefit the owner.

This includes the sale of any new tickets for home or away matches and a ban on the sale of merchandise.

The government was criticised for waiting two weeks after the invasion to sanction Mr Abramovich.

Technology minister Chris Philp suggested the government had delayed because it was trying to build a strong case against the tycoon.

"People like Abramovich have expensive lawyers and we want to make sure that we don't get challenged, that we've gone through carefully and methodically putting together a case that is watertight," he told Sky News.

And he told Times Radio he was “very confident” that Mr Abramovich and the six oligarchs would not be able to challenge the measures successfully.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows destroyed and burning warehouse buildings in Stoyanka, Ukraine, in the western Kyiv region, during the Russian invasion. AP

Children shelter in a metro station in Kharkiv. Moscow said on March 10, 2022, that it will open daily humanitarian corridors to allow civilians fleeing fighting in Ukraine to reach Russian territory, despite Kyiv insisting that no evacuation routes should lead to Russia. AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a videoconference meeting with government members at the Kremlin in Moscow. The meeting focuses on minimising the effects of sanctions on the Russian economy. Russian troops entered Ukraine on February 24, prompting the country's president to declare martial law and triggering a series of severe economic sanctions imposed by western countries. EPA

Rescuers work among remains of buildings damaged by an air strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, as Russia's attack on the country continues. Reuters

Members of the National Guard of Ukraine, Oleksandr and Olena, listen to a priest at their wedding in Ukraine. Reuters

People fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine warm up by a fire near the train station in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters

Russian forces rolled their armoured vehicles up to the northeastern edge of Kyiv, edging closer in their attempts to encircle the Ukrainian capital. AFP

A woman covers herself with a blanket near a damaged fire truck after shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP Photo

A Ukrainian soldier hides from a helicopter air strike near Demydiv, Ukraine. Reuters

Ukrainian soldiers walk past a monument of the city founder Duke de Richelieu, covered with sand bags for protection, in Odessa, Ukraine. Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, centre, and Ukranian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. EPA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in talks with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba during a tripartite meeting chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Antalya, Turkey. AP

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova speaks to the media as the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia and Turkey hold talks in Antalya, 15 days after Russia launched a military invasion on Ukraine. AFP

A Ukrainian serviceman says goodbye to his girlfriend before departing in the direction of Kyiv at the central train station in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP

Valerii Sushkevych, president of the Ukraine National Paralympic Committee, and the Ukraine delegation raise their fists and pose with a banner at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. Reuters

A member of the Ukrainian team cries during a moment of silence at the Zhangjiakou athletes village during the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. AFP

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, right, and Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela, second left, in Antalya, Turkey. AFP

A man is supported after crossing the Irpin river while fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine. AP

People are helped out of a damaged children's hospital following a Russian air strike in the southeastern city of Mariupol, Ukraine. AFP

A man rides a bicycle in front of an apartment building that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol. AP

A woman carries two babies after arriving at a triage point in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

A man hugs an elderly woman after crossing a damaged bridge as they flee from the frontline town of Irpin, near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. EPA

Local residents cook at a makeshift camp next to a checkpoint in Kyiv. EPA

Ukrainian men chop wood at a makeshift camp next to a checkpoint in Kyiv. EPA

A member of the Territorial Defence Forces learns how to use a Javelin missile during a training session in Kyiv. EPA

Members of the Territorial Defence Forces learn how to give first aid during the training session. EPA

A woman rescued from the outskirts of Kyiv holds a plate of food after arriving at a triage point in the Ukrainian capital. AP

A woman cries after arriving at the triage point in Kyiv. AP

Civilian vehicles drive past a destroyed Russian tank as they leave Irpin. AP

Ukrainian servicemen stand in a foxhole in Irpin. AP

People gather on a platform to board a train leaving Odesa after the US said Russian troops are making preparations to attack the city. AFP

A Ukrainian woman looks for food in a bin in Odesa's city centre. AFP

Ukrainian servicemen look towards Russian positions outside the city of Brovary, east of Kyiv. AFP

A man walks past a shelled house at the village of Velyka Dymerka, east of Kyiv. AFP

A Ukrainian serviceman stands at a check point in the vilage of Velyka Dymerka east of Kyiv. AFP

A Ukrainian woman plays with her child in a temporary refugee shelter in Przemysl, Poland. Reuters

A woman waits outside a maternity and children's hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP

A pregnant woman leaves the hospital after she was wounded when it was bombed. AP

A woman waits outside the damaged hospital in Mariupol. AP

A man wounded by shelling in Mariupol. AP

A car burns after the destruction of the children's hospital in Mariupol. Reuters

A mortuary worker wheels a stretcher used to move dead bodies before they are buried on the outskirts of Mariupol. AP

Downing Street reminded Chelsea fans of the allegation that Mr Abramovich has supported the Putin regime after supporters chanted the club owner’s name in an apparent show of support.

“We understand the strength of feelings that Chelsea fans will have and the passion for their club, but it’s important to remember that these sanctions are being imposed on those who have provided support to the Putin regime and the brutal assault on Ukraine," a spokesman for the prime minister said.