The British government announced 46 new sanctions on Russian individuals and entities on Thursday, specifically targeting associates of the Wagner mercenary group and a military officer accused of involvement in the 2018 Novichok poisoning in Salisbury. The sanctions include a key designation under the chemical weapons sanctions regime for Denis Sergeev, a Russian military intelligence officer charged by British authorities in the attempted murder of former double agent Sergei Skripal.
According to the UK Foreign Ministry, Sergeev, who reportedly operated under the alias Sergey Fedotov, played a “coordinating role” in London during the attack weekend, providing logistical support for the use of the Novichok nerve agent. Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found poisoned on a park bench in Salisbury, where the nerve agent had allegedly been applied to his front door handle. Three Russian GRU intelligence officers have since been charged in absentia, though Moscow denies involvement and has not responded to inquiries on the new sanctions.
In addition, the UK imposed sanctions on individuals and organizations linked to Wagner’s operations in the Central African Republic, Libya, and Mali. The Wagner group, considered a private military company with close Kremlin ties, has conducted combat operations across multiple global regions. Known for supporting Russian interests with plausible deniability, Wagner has expanded Russian influence in various African nations. Western critics, including the United States, have accused the group of exploiting natural resources and destabilizing regions where it operates.
The British Foreign Ministry emphasized that these sanctions, the latest in an ongoing series targeting Russian actions and affiliations, underscore the UK’s commitment to countering alleged Russian aggression abroad. The measures aim to cut off financial support and operational capabilities for those associated with Russian covert operations and destabilizing entities across Africa and Europe.
