LONDON — The United Kingdom announced 31 new sanctions targeting Russian individuals and entities involved in propaganda and human rights abuses in occupied Ukrainian territories.
The sanctions package includes eight individuals implicated in the arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian civilians. The Foreign Office said these abuses are part of a wider system of repression that also includes enforced disappearances.
Seven people face sanctions for their roles in indoctrinating and militarizing Ukrainian children. The Foreign Office said approximately 6,000 Ukrainian children have been placed in re-education camps. Millions more Ukrainian children are subjected to Russian propaganda programs that include training in weapons handling and drone operation.
Beyond the initial 31 announced measures, the broader sanctions package targets 85 people and entities. Two-thirds are related to Russian propaganda operations, including attempts to interfere in Armenian elections.
Among those targeted for disinformation are 49 individuals associated with the Social Design Agency. These individuals—writers, translators and videomakers—are identified as responsible for Kremlin propaganda.
Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty traveled to Brussels to attend a meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. During his visit, he announced an additional 1.2 million pounds in UK funding for the Verification Centre and Tracing Mechanism, which aims to help identify and locate Ukrainian children forcibly removed from their homes.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it would respond "on a reciprocal basis" after Britain sanctioned Russian lawmakers. The UK sanctions broadly target Russia's financial, aviation, military and energy sectors through asset freezes, travel bans and trade restrictions.
