UK announces new sanctions targeting Russian state media

The United Kingdom has announced a new set of sanctions targeting Russian state media, ratcheting up the US-led offensive against Moscow over the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.

The 14 new sanctions target TV-Novosti, which owns Russian broadcaster RT, as well as Rossiya Segodnya, the Russian media outlet that owns Sputnik, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Thursday.

The UK sanctions also target Rossiya TV anchor Sergey Brilev, who will not be allowed to continue conducting business in Britain or access his assets there; CEO of Gazprom-Media Aleksandr Zharov; RT managing director Alexey Nikolov; and Sputnik International Broadcasting head Anton Anisimov.

The sanctions are also imposed on Russian Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev who London claims is “known for using reprehensible tactics, including shelling civilian centers in both Aleppo in 2015-16 and now in Mariupol – where atrocities are being perpetuated against Ukrainian people.”

The British foreign secretary said that more sanctions against Russia are coming.  

“Putin’s war on Ukraine is based on a torrent of lies. Britain has helped lead the world in exposing Kremlin disinformation, and this latest batch of sanctions hits the shameless propagandists who push out Putin’s fake news and narratives,” Truss said in a statement.

“We will keep on going with more sanctions to ramp up the pressure on Russia and ensure Putin loses in Ukraine. Nothing and no one is off the table,” she added.

Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ranted against Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he “crossed the red line into barbarism.” In response, Russia warned Britain's foreign policy approach would lead to a dead-end.

Johnson said Russia should be targeted with additional sanctions as a consequence of the war, claiming that more penalties could help end the conflict at a quicker pace.

“Vladimir Putin has already crossed the red line into barbarism,” Johnson told reporters, according to Reuters.

Russia warns Britain after Johnson said Putin 'crossed the red line into barbarism'

Boris Johnson says Putin has “crossed the red line into barbarism,” ratcheting up the US-led propaganda offensive against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

Johnson's comments came as London announced sanctions on 65 more groups and individuals, including a private military firm and a major Russian bank.

He said the US and its Western allies have to “tighten the vice” in sanctions against Russia to force Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.

“It is very important we work together to get this thing done. The harder our sanctions ... the more we can do to help Ukraine ... the faster this thing can be over,” Johnson said.

In addition to the new raft of financial sanctions, the UK government has announced plans to send 6,000 more missiles to Ukraine.

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