By admin 
‘Attacks at the heart of Putin’s war machine’ also target people involved in the war in Ukraine and the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
The United Kingdom has announced dozens of new sanctions against Russia, targeting African mercenary groups backed by Moscow and people involved in the war in Ukraine and a nerve agent attack on British soil.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday announced 56 new designations against individuals and entities, which it says target Russia’s military-industrial complex and “further restrict the supply of essential military equipment” that Russian President Vladimir Putin needs in Ukraine.
Entities based in China, Turkey and Central Asia were targeted for the alleged supply and production of goods such as machine tools, microelectronics and drone parts.
Three private mercenary groups, including the Wagner Group’s successor, the Africa Corps, and “11 individuals linked to Russian allies” were also sanctioned.
“These targets have direct ties to the Kremlin, have threatened peace and security in Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic and have committed widespread human rights abuses across the continent,” the State Department said.
Britain noted that it is now the first country in the Group of Seven (G7) to directly impose sanctions on the Afrika Korps, which it said is “responsible for threatening stability and security across Africa.”
Denis Sergeev, a Russian intelligence agent, was also mentioned after he was allegedly involved in the use of a Novichok nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury, poisoning Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in 2018.
The Foreign Office called this the largest package of sanctions imposed by Britain since May 2023.
Over the past month, Britain has introduced multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia, including allegations against Russian shipping, alleged use of chemical weapons and cyber activities.
“Today’s actions will continue to push back on the Kremlin’s corrosive foreign policy, which is undermining Russia’s efforts to promote instability across Africa, disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin’s war machine and destroying the illicit international networks where Russia has worked so hard on this.” Foreign Minister David Lammy said this.
The sanctions have been imposed as Russia seeks to expand its footprint in Africa as its war with Ukraine continues, especially in the western parts of the continent and the Sahel region.
The United States and France have gradually withdrawn soldiers and weapons from the region as local governments object to their presence amid ongoing violence from armed groups.