On february 24, the UK announced nearly 300 Russia-related sanctions, calling it the largest package against Moscow since the early months of the Ukraine conflict. This move brings the total number of companies and individuals the UK has targeted in connection with the war in Ukraine to over 3,000.

New measures include an asset freeze on Transneft, a state-controlled Russian oil pipeline operator. The UK stated the oil sector holds "strategic importance for the Russian government", adding that Transneft transports over 80% of Moscow's oil exports. This company has been under Western sanctions since Russia's annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014.

London also sanctioned 175 companies within the "2Rivers" oil network, which the UK claims is one of the largest "shadow fleet" operators and a major trader of Russian crude oil. The "shadow fleet" is a term Western countries use to refer to vessels allegedly employed by Moscow to circumvent sanctions.

Tanker trucks at a Transneft production facility in Moscow province in 2022. *Photo: Reuters*

The UK stated these measures send a message that Russian oil is now excluded from the market. According to a report published by a Finnish research institute on february 24, Russia is exporting more oil than before the Ukraine conflict began, mostly to China, India, and Turkey.

The UK also targeted companies supplying military equipment, civilian nuclear energy programs, and Russia's liquefied gas industry. The country also imposed sanctions on two Georgian television channels, Imedi TV and POSTV, accusing them of disseminating disinformation favorable to Russia.

According to the UK, Imedi TV and POSTV regularly called Ukraine a "puppet" of the West and claimed Volodymyr Zelensky was not the legitimate President.

Both channels reacted defiantly to the move from London. On Facebook, Imedi TV called the UK sanctions "completely worthless", while POSTV responded with two smiling emojis.

Russia has not commented on the information.

The UK announced its new sanctions package coinciding with the four-year anniversary of the Ukraine conflict. Leaders of Ukraine's allied countries, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, arrived in Ukraine on february 24 to participate in commemorative activities for the outbreak of hostilities.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also present and reaffirmed that Europe remains "steadfastly united with Ukraine financially, militarily, and throughout this harsh winter".

Pham Giang (According to AFP)