UK sanctions Russia's schemes to recruit migrants for war against Ukraine

The UK has announced that it is imposing sanctions on 35 individuals and organisations involved in recruiting vulnerable migrants to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine and in manufacturing drones for use in Moscow's illegal war of aggression.

Source: the UK government in a press release dated 5 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The UK government said that as Russia attempts to use migrants to bolster its military machine, the sanctions announced on Tuesday directly target individuals involved in trafficking migrants to be sent to the front lines, as well as companies supplying products to Russian drone manufacturing facilities.

The latest measures target 35 individuals and organisations, including those responsible for human trafficking networks.

The press release noted that the networks sanctioned by the UK have been fraudulently recruiting foreign migrants seeking a better life and "either sending them to the front line as cannon fodder or putting them to work in weapons factories".

"This includes through schemes like Russia's Alabuga Start programme for drone production at a UK-sanctioned entity," the press release reads.

The fresh sanctions also include individuals and entities from third countries, notably Thailand and China, responsible for supplying Russia with drone components and other critical military goods.

Among those hit by the UK sanctions is Pavel Nikitin, whose company develops the VT-40, a cheap Russian attack drone widely used in attacks on Ukraine.

Three individuals who recruit people to fight for Russia have also been sanctioned.

Among them is Polina Alexandrovna Azarnykh, who, with support from the Russian state, has been facilitating the transport of individuals from countries including Egypt, Iraq, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Morocco, Syria and Yemen to Russia, from where they are sent to the front lines.

UK Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty believes "the practice of exploiting vulnerable people to prop up Russia's failing and illegal war in Ukraine is barbaric".

Quote from Doughty: "These sanctions expose and disrupt the operations of those trafficking migrants as cannon fodder and feeding Putin's drone factories with illicit components to target innocent civilians and vital infrastructure."

Background:

• In late March, British military personnel were authorised to board vessels from Russia's "shadow fleet" transiting through British waters.
• At the end of April, it emerged that the UK government was preparing to introduce more stringent controls on the issuing of export licences to prevent potential breaches of sanctions against Russia.

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