The UK Government has today (Wednesday 29 June) announced new sanctions, hitting Putin’s inner circle.
Amongst those sanctioned is Vladimir Potanin – Russia’s second richest man and owner of major conglomerate Interros.
Potanin continues to amass wealth as he supports Putin’s regime, acquiring Rosbank, and shares in Tinkoff Bank in the period since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Anna Tsivileva, Putin’s cousin and President of the prominent Russian coal mining company, JSC Kolmar Group, has also been sanctioned.
Tsivileva’s husband Sergey Tsivilev is Governor of the coal rich Kemerovo region and the couple have significantly benefitted from their relationship to Putin. JSC Kolmar Group is also being sanctioned today.
A Government Spokesperson said:“As long as Putin continues his abhorrent assault on Ukraine, we will use sanctions to weaken the Russian war machine. Today’s sanctions show that nothing and no one is off the table, including Putin’s inner circle.”
The UK government is also sanctioning a group of Russian individuals and companies for their involvement in repressing civilians and supporting the Assad regime in Syria – exposing Russia’s malign activity across the globe.
The UK government is also acting alongside international allies to introduce new measures that will prevent Russia from accessing UK trusts services. These services, which allow a person or business to manage the assets of another, are another major element of the UK’s world-class financial services sector that Russia will no longer be able to use.
Throughout Putin’s war of choice, international partners have stood side by side with Ukraine and used sanctions to punish his abhorrent invasion and Governments and businesses alike are turning their backs on Russia. The UK has sanctioned more than 1,000 people and over 120 businesses since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and three quarters of foreign companies have reduced operations in Russia – nearly a quarter of which have completely withdrawn.
Russian imports have dropped over 40% since the invasion and stockpiles of vital imported manufacturing components are likely to be depleted in the next three to six months.
Car production is also down by 60% and Russia’s own Transport Minister has admitted that Russia’s logistical infrastructure is now “broken” as a result of sanctions.