Sanctions target oil, shadow fleet and crypto
Britain announced 38 new designations against Russia, including two oil companies, Zarubezhneft and INK Capital. According to the Government, UK sanctions now cover more than 90% of Russia's total oil production capacity. The package also targets 12 additional oil tankers operating in Russia's shadow fleet, raising the total number of sanctioned vessels above 600.[S1]
The package also targets three crypto trading venues and two payment services, with three of those tied to Kyrgyzstan, plus one named individual. Authorities believe these may have been used to get around financial restrictions on Russia. In addition, 17 people and organizations are being penalized for supplying goods that the UK, US and EU deem essential to Russia's ongoing military campaign, among them Russian-based importers of machine tools, electronics and materials needed for ballistic missile and drone production.[S1]
Miliband visits strike site in Pryluky
The sanctions were revealed while Miliband and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky toured the wreckage of a Russian missile attack on a five-storey apartment block in Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region, where 22 civilians died. Standing next to Zelensky in Pryluky, Miliband explained that the trip was intended to deliver concrete actions rather than mere expressions of solidarity, citing the fresh penalties on Russia's military industry, shadow fleet, oil firms, crypto and war financing, along with extra humanitarian and energy assistance.[S1][S2]
Miliband condemned what he called an appalling atrocity and described Putin's strategy as evil. He said the vast majority of people killed or affected in the region were civilians and that the buildings targeted were civilian, adding that international law treats the targeting of civilians as war crimes. He also said Putin, who once claimed he would win on the battlefield, is now trying to win by terrorising civilians, and expressed confidence that this would not succeed because of the courage of the Ukrainian people.[S1]
Kyiv Business Centre opens for UK firms
A new UK business hub dedicated to industry in Ukraine has launched, establishing a lasting British commercial foothold in Kyiv to strengthen bilateral links. The Kyiv Business Centre offers UK companies, especially smaller and medium-sized ones, a place to forge partnerships with Ukrainian counterparts, gain insights from the battlefield and explore joint development, joint manufacturing and investment prospects.[S1]
Defence minister Luke Pollard stated that the UK has remained a steadfast ally to Ukraine from the outset of Russia's unlawful invasion, and that this centre opens doors for investment, economic growth and lasting reconstruction, reinforcing the 100-Year Partnership and converting common determination into common innovation. National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce called the facility a lasting bridge that reshapes Britain's capacity to work with Ukrainian partners, observing that expenses, security risks and other obstacles caused by Russia's full-scale invasion had hindered companies, particularly smaller ones, from operating in Ukraine, and that the centre removes those hurdles.[S1]
