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New sanctions are being imposed on Russian generals and business leaders supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, the UK announced on Thursday.
The new sanctions were filed after British intelligence revealed what it called the intentional bombing of critical and civilian infrastructure in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.
“The depravity of Russia’s assault on the people of Ukraine is plain for all to see. They are deliberately targeting hospitals, schools, and transport hubs in Mariupol and beyond — just as they did in Chechnya and Syria,” UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.
“The UK is unyielding in our support for Ukraine and in holding Putin and his regime to account. Today’s new wave of sanctions hits the generals and defence companies that have blood on their hands.”
Mariupol has become a key battleground in the war.
President Vladimir Putin declared on Thursday that Russia had seized the city, even as his Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said more than 2,000 Ukrainian troops remain holed up in an industrial complex in the strategic port on the Sea of Azov.
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Pro-Russian troops, including fighters of the Chechen special forces unit, survey the destroyed administration building of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine. Reuters -
A young Ukrainian refugee, one of 71 to board a flight from Moldova, sits on a suitcase after arriving in Bordeaux, France. AFP -
A member of a demining team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine carries an unexploded projectile during mine clearing near Brovary, north-east of Kyiv. AFP -
An armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops presses on in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Reuters -
A worker cleans a statue of the founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin at Moscow Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. AFP -
Firefighters battle flames at a warehouse after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo -
People walk along a street past a missile that stuck in the ground, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Rubizhne, Luhansk region, Ukraine. Reuters -
A man rides his bicycle next to a destroyed Russian tank in Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP Photo -
A man walks next to a fire after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo -
A Ukrainian refugee from Mariupol area, is greeted after arriving in a small convoy that crossed through a territory held by Russian forces, after the opening of a humanitarian corridor, at a registration center for internally displaced people, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Reuters -
A Ukrainian soldier stands during the funeral of his father in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP -
Ukrainian soldiers walk on a destroyed bridge in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP -
Ukrainians receive humanitarian aid organised by local volunteers in Irpin. AP -
Volodymyr Lukyanovych, 63, cuts wood to make a fire outside his house in Irpin. His home was destroyed by Russian shelling. AP -
Vova, 10, and his father, Ivan Drahun, look at the grave of his mother, Maryna, during her funeral in Bucha. AP -
Sergei, 11, waits his turn to receive donated food during an aid humanitarian distribution in Bucha. AP -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and European Council President Charles Michel attend a news conference after their meeting in Kyiv. AP -
People pay their respects during the funeral in Kyiv for Ukrainian serviceman Volodymyr Karas, who died fighting Russian troops. AP -
Alexandra Kusminova pets her cat, named Mouse, in a restaurant in Dnipro, Ukraine, that was transformed into a shelter for those fleeing the war. AP -
A woman reads a book as she lays on a bed in the shelter. AP -
City workers repair a war-damaged road in Bucha. Getty Images -
The village council and police department buildings destroyed by Russian shelling in Lymany, just outside Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Getty Images -
Local residents receive bottled water from a truck, since there has been no running water for more than a week in Mykolaiv. Getty Images -
A destroyed car on the road between Kyiv and Chernihiv. EPA -
A man looks at a burned APC in Yahidne, Chernihiv. EPA -
A man holds part of a missile in Yahidne. EPA -
A resident clears up a house that was occupied by Russian soldiers in Yahidne. EPA -
Local youth Vladyslav, 17, inspects the basement of the school building in Yahidne. EPA -
A local resident walks on the street in Yahidne. EPA -
Local residents speak on the street next to war ruins. EPA -
A destroyed garage in Ivanivka. EPA -
A man looks at bombs that litter a field in Ivanivka. EPA -
Natalia and her daughter climb a ladder, passing over a destroyed bridge in Kyiv. EPA
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said countries should “do more” when it comes to providing military support to Ukraine.
“The Ukrainians need, first and foremost, they need long-range artillery and artillery shells,” he said.
“They use currently Russian Soviet stocks and the calibres are different from what the West holds, so not only are we trying to help them source those calibres so that they can immediately be used, but at the same time helping them explore developing new capabilities with what would be called Nato calibres, so that if they choose to shift to that we can all help them with supply.”
The UK government said four senior officers are among those targeted in the new sanctions.
They include the commander of occupying troops in the town of Bucha, north-west of Kyiv. Hundreds of civilians were found dead after Russian forces withdrew from the town.
Sanctions have been imposed on the following key military leaders:
- Lt Col Azatbek Omurbekov, an army commanding officer accused of involvement in the “Bucha massacre”.
- Col Gen Andrey Serdyukov, commander of airborne forces
- Maj Gen Valery Flyustikov, commander of special operation forces
- Col Gen Nikolay Bogdanovsky, first deputy chief of the general staff
Also targeted are people actively supporting the invasion, including:
- Oleg Belozyorov, chief executive and chairman of Russian Railways
- Ilya Kiva, an expelled Ukrainian MP who has publicly supported Russia’s actions
Russian bombers have repeatedly dropped munitions on civilian infrastructure, including civil government buildings, hospitals, schools and transportation nodes, the Foreign Office said.
The UK government concluded it was intentional targeting based on the types of civilian targets struck, frequency of strikes, volume of munitions and the repeated targeting of the same locations on consecutive days.
As part of the new wave of sanctions, the UK is also fast-tracking a further 19 individuals and entities, in alignment with global partners from the G7 and the EU.
They are all linked to Russia’s military and defence capabilities and include:
- Sergei Borisovich Korolyov, first deputy director of Russia Federal Security Service
- Kalashnikov Concern, a Russian developer and weapons manufacturer
- Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, where amphibious armoured personnel carriers are built
- GTLK, which operates special equipment for Russian companies in the transport industry.
Oligarchs sanctioned by the UK - in pictures
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The UK has sanctioned more than 1,400 individuals and businesses, including 100 oligarchs and their relatives, since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The list of oligarchs includes: Roman Abramovich, 55. PA -
Katerina Tikhonova, left, and Maria Vorontsova, unseen, also known as Maria Putina, daughters of Russia President Vladimir Putin. Reuters -
Oleg Deripaska, 54. The industrialist is worth £2 billion and has had close links with the British political establishment. He has a multimillion pound property portfolio in the UK. Reuters -
Igor Sechin, 61. Officials described Mr Sechin as Mr Putin's right-hand man and the second most important person in the country. Reuters -
Andrey Kostin, 65. The chairman of VTB, a Russian state-owned bank. Mr Kostin is also a member of the supreme council of the United Russia political party and deemed a close associate of Mr Putin. AP Photo -
Alexei Miller, 60. The chief executive of energy company Gazprom, Russia's largest company and the world's biggest public energy supplier. AFP -
Nikolai Tokarev, 71, president of the Russia state-owned pipeline company Transneft. Mr Tokarev is a former KGB officer who served with Mr Putin in East Germany towards the end of the Cold War. AP Photo -
Kirill Shamalov, 39. He is Russia's youngest billionaire and the ex-husband of Mr Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova. Reuters -
Pyotr Fradkov, 43. He is head of the sanctioned Promsvyazbank, which finances Russian defence industries, and the son of Mikhail Fradkov, a former prime minister of Russia and chief of its foreign intelligence service. Reuters -
Denis Bortnikov, 47. The deputy president of government-affiliated VTB bank. His father, Alexander Bortnikov, is head of the Federal Security Service. Getty Images -
Yury Slyusar, 47. The director of United Aircraft Corporation, one of the major defence organisations that has also been sanctioned. Getty Images
