Russia has imposed sanctions on 18 “Russophobic” British citizens, including senior officials and academics, in what Moscow claims are attempts to demonize Russia and prolong the war in Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Office issued “personal sanctions” in response to what it called “London’s ongoing confrontational course”, as the UK continues to support Kiev in its resistance to Vladimir Putin’s invading forces.
He said in a statement, without providing evidence, that “in pressuring the Zelensky regime to continue the bloodshed, the British must realize that, along with Ukrainian neo-Nazis, they are responsible for crimes against civilians.”
“We are forced to affirm that British representatives with Russophobic attitudes do not hesitate to try to discredit the constitutional system and socio-political processes in our country.”
Senior officials on the sanctions list include British Deputy Defense Minister James Cartlidge, Deputy National Security Adviser Sarah MacIntosh and Submarines Director Simon Asquith.
Moscow issued the sanctions as the UK continues to support kyiv in its resistance to Vladimir Putin’s invading forces.
Lord Ashcroft has been vocal in his support for Ukraine and warned last week that the UK must steel its resolve in the face of Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
Other planned sanctions included Stuart Peach, the British Prime Minister’s special envoy to the Western Balkans, as well as Lords Dan Hannan and Michael Ashcroft.
Lord Ashcroft has been vocal in his support for Ukraine and warned last week that the UK must steel its resolve in the face of Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
In apparent reference to Russian experts and academics, Moscow added: “The so-called think tanks operating on the basis of the largest British and Western educational institutions make a significant contribution to London’s subversive work in the Russian direction.”
The sanctioned academics included historians Orlando Figes, Norman Davies, Timothy Garton Ash, Rob Johnson, David Abulafia and experts such as Roy Allison of Oxford, Graeme Robertson of the University of North Carolina, Calder Walton of Harvard and James Sherr of the International Center . of Defense and Security in Tallinn.
It is not the first time that Moscow has sanctioned UK officials. Last year, it imposed sanctions on diplomats in retaliation for what it called Britain’s “hostile actions” in the Ukraine war.
Submarine Director Simon Asquith
British historian and author Timothy Garton Ash
British Defense Procurement Minister James Cartlidge
Sir Stuart Peach British Special Envoy to the Western Balkans
Tom Dodd, a senior envoy, was summoned to the Foreign Office in Moscow and reprimanded for British support for what the Kremlin considers “terrorist actions” by Ukraine and for allegedly obstructing Russian diplomacy in the United Kingdom.
Many Britons have been banned from traveling to Russia and have had their assets frozen since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine almost exactly two years ago.
During that time, the UK has issued a steady stream of diplomatic sanctions against Moscow, aimed at deterring its war effort.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron unveiled new sanctions against arms suppliers in December in a bid to break Putin’s “international chain of suppliers” and punish those who are “illicitly financing” Russia’s war machine.