The United Kingdom has announced a series of new sanctions aimed at restricting the production of Russian drones and combating criminal networks that exploit migrants from around the world to support Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.
“These sanctions expose and disrupt those who traffic migrants, using them as ‘cannon fodder’, as well as those supplying illegal components to Putin’s drone factories, which are used against innocent civilians and vital infrastructure,” said Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty.
According to a statement on the UK government website, the measures target 35 individuals and organizations, including those responsible for human trafficking networks that supply exploited migrants to Russia’s military machine.
“The networks sanctioned by the United Kingdom deceitfully recruit foreign migrants seeking a better life and either send them to the front line as ‘cannon fodder’ or force them to work in weapons factories. This includes schemes such as the Russian ‘Alabuga Start’ drone production program at a facility that has itself been sanctioned by the United Kingdom,” the statement said.
The sanctions list also includes individuals and entities from third countries, including Thailand and China, who are responsible for supplying drone components and other critical military goods to Russia.
“Among those sanctioned is Pavel Nikitin, whose company develops the Russian VT-40 drone — a cheap, mass-produced strike drone that Russia has widely used in attacks against Ukraine,” the UK government noted.
In addition, three individuals linked to the Russian state who were involved in recruiting people to travel to Ukraine to fight on Russia’s side have also been sanctioned.
“Among them is Polina Alexandrovna Azarnykh, who, with the support of the Russian state, facilitated the transportation of individuals from countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Morocco, Syria, and Yemen through Russia to Ukraine, where, after minimal training and in horrific conditions, they are sent to the front line to support Russia’s illegal war of aggression,” the statement said.
