UK sanctions Russian agencies and officials for Ukraine disinformation campaigns News
© WikiMedia (UK Government)
UK sanctions Russian agencies and officials for Ukraine disinformation campaigns

The UK imposed sanctions on three Russian agencies and senior figures for orchestrating disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining Ukraine’s democracy on Monday.

The sanctions were imposed through an amendment of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, and target the “Doppelganger” network as part of a coordinated international effort to combat Russian interference and support Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The agencies sanctioned are the Social Design Agency, Structure National Technologies and Ano Dialog, while the senior individuals targeted are Ilya Andreevich Gambashidze, Nikolay Aleksandrovich Tupikin, and Andrey Naumovich Perla. They are accused of disseminating false posts, forged documents, and deepfake content as part of the “Doppelganger” network.

This latest action is part of a coordinated international effort to combat Russian disinformation, with the US, Canada, France, Germany, Australia and the European External Action Service (EEAS) have also condemned the SDA’s activities globally. The sanctions imposed are legally binding and typically include asset freezes and travel bans to effectively limit the ability of the sanctioned parties to conduct business or travel within the UK or conduct business in other countries. The sanctions come just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed allegations that Russia had been inciting street protests.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the significance of these sanctions, stating:

Putin is so desperate to undermine European support for Ukraine he is now resorting to clumsy, ineffective efforts to try and stoke unrest. Today’s sanctions send a clear message: we will not tolerate your lies and interference, and we are coming after you. Putin’s desperate attempts to divide us will fail. We will constrain the Kremlin, and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

These sanctions are part of a broader set of measures implemented by the UK against Russian entities and individuals. The UK previously imposed sanctions on Russian troops in October for employing chemical weapons in Ukraine. Additionally, the UK sanctioned 11 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet in September for assisting Russia in circumventing oil export restrictions. The US, too, seized 32 internet domains linked to a Russian government-backed disinformation campaign in September and announced sanctions for Russian news outlet RT.

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