The foreign office says many Russian spies have been approved for running a “sustainable campaign for malicious cyber activity,” including the UK.
The Russian GRU Spy Agency and three military intelligence agencies from 18 officers said, “We have imposed sanctions on them for allegedly spreading confusion and obstacles. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s orders.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lamy linked the activity to Ukraine’s continued support, saying Glu Spy is “running a campaign to destabilise Europe.”
Separately, the European Union had placed “the strongest sanctions” on Russia. Russia was calling it “essential and timely” by Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky.
The latest EU measures announced on Friday included a ban on transactions related to the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline and lowering the upper limit of the price that can be purchased in Russia.
The UK joined in the move to lower price caps, with Prime Minister Rachel Reeves saying Europe was “turning screws on the Kremlin warbox.”
They are coming as if they hope that their European allies will increase pressure on Russia and end the three-year war in Ukraine.
But former President Putin’s close ally, Dmitry Medvedev, said his country’s economy would survive the sanctions and that Moscow would continue to “increase its strength” and shock Ukraine.
EU sanctions are the 18th round of such measures as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
The aim is to undermine Moscow’s ability to fund the war with Ukraine, as Russia increases its oil exports to China and India and operates the so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers around the world.
Whitehall officials say today’s sanctions imposed by the UK on 18 Russian GRU military intelligence agents since the aftermath of Salisbury Novichok’s addiction in 2018 are “the greatest action against Russian spies.”
The latter was more important as it involved a massive expulsion of Russian “diplomats,” but it is estimated that GRU officials who went out today have returned to Russia.
The UK Foreign Office said Unit 26165-, one of the approved intelligence reporting units, was involved in the target of Malyupol, including a strike that hit a Ukrainian city theater, killing hundreds of civilians.
He also said that he had taken action to the intelligence officer who placed the spyware on Yulia Skripal’s phone.
The Foreign Ministry added that Russia has targeted British media organizations, telecommunications companies, energy infrastructure and political institutions.
“The Kremlin should definitely be. We see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we don’t tolerate it,” Ramy said in a statement. “The threat and aggression of Putin’s hybrids will not break our resolve.”
The BBC contacted the Russian Embassy for comment.
Authorized people or entities can face a variety of restrictions, including freezing financial assets.
European leaders are also looking for the United States to put more pressure on Russia.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump threatened Russia with severe tariffs if the peace agreement was not reached within 50 days. The US president is increasingly feeling anxious about Putin.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced sanctions against three leaders of the “African Initiative.” This is a social media campaign that has been established, funded and adopted by Russia to implement disinformation operations in West Africa.
Russia has previously denied any involvement in efforts to sabotage the country’s democratic system or to sabotage the economy.
