Britain hits Russia with new sanctions, steps up Ukraine support

The United Kingdom has unveiled a package of 30 new sanctions targeting Russia’s finance, military, and energy sectorsat the G7 summit in Canada on June 17.

The move follows a wave of devastating Russian strikes on Kyiv, underscoring Moscow’s continued aggression and refusal to engage in meaningful peace efforts.

Among the new measures:

- 20 tankers in Putin’s so-called "shadow fleet" have been sanctioned, striking at Russia’s illicit oil trade.

- Russian oil shipping firms Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ have been blacklisted for managing these vessels.

- The UK has also sanctioned the Russian military agency GUGI, responsible for developing underwater intelligence capabilities, amid concerns about threats to subsea infrastructure.

- Two UK residents, Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz, were sanctioned for funneling over $120 million in high-tech electronics to Russia—many items on the Common High Priority goods list.

“These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine,” said Prime Minister Starmer. “We will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the resolve, saying, “We will systematically dismantle his dangerous shadow fleet and support Ukraine to defend itself.”

In a coordinated move, the UK and its allies also plan to tighten the Oil Price Cap, aiming to cripple Russia’s primary source of war funding without destabilizing global energy markets.