UK sanctions Russian weapons bosses for role in Ukraine war
The move is part of the UK's latest efforts to punish Moscow for its ongoing war.
Aleksey Viktorovich Rtishchev, head of Russia's radiological chemical and biological defence troops, and his deputy, Andrei Marchenko, face asset freezes and travel bans.
The British government stated their role in the transfer and use of chemical weapons in Ukraine prompted these measures.
Separately, the Joint Stock Company Federal Scientific and Production Centre Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry has been sanctioned for supplying RG-Vo riot control agent grenades to the Russian military.
These grenades, the government said, have been deployed as a method of warfare against Ukraine, a direct contravention of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
In June, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised to keep 'tightening the screws' on Russian leader Vladimir Putin as he announced a raft of fresh sanctions on dozens of new Russian finance, military and energy targets.
Two UK residents who have funnelled more than $120m of electronics to Russia through a network of companies were also among those targeted as the government vowed to 'starve Putin's war machine'.
'We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws,' Sir Keir added.
Those sanctions were aimed at Russia's finance, military and energy sectors, including Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers, which is illicitly transporting oil to skirt Western restrictions, with 20 additional ships targeted.
The UK also cracked down on those enabling Putin's illegal oil exports, sanctioning the energy firms Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ for their role in crewing and managing shadow fleet vessels.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
BBC Studios marks a year of record revenues and creative success
• BBC Commercial delivers record revenues of £2.2bn in 2024/25 • Strategic investments paying off; growth from previous year investments includes 20% increase in BritBox International revenues in first full year of ownership • Retains position as the UK's most awarded studio, with seven Emmy awards, an Oscar for Conclave, and more than 150 awards won in the year • Global hit Bluey boosts consumer products revenues BBC Commercial, a global media company which is part of the BBC Group, today released its annual results as part of the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts, marking a year where the company delivered record revenue and industry-awarded creative success. The company, which makes and distributes some of the world's most sought-after content as well as creating and nurturing iconic brands, achieved record revenues of £2.2bn (2023/24: £1.9bn) and EBITDA of £228m (2023/24: £199m) in a challenging market, driven by a diversified portfolio; strong performance for BritBox International; and its consumer products division, especially global hit Bluey. BBC Studios, the main commercial arm of the BBC Commercial group, recorded its fourth consecutive year of profit in excess of £200m, expressed as EBITDA, of £225m (2023/24: £202m), an increase of 11% year on year, despite organic investment in media & streaming, including and UKTV, which both saw audience growth. The profits generated by BBC Studios go back to the BBC to support its mission in the UK. Tom Fussell, CEO of BBC Commercial said: 'BBC Commercial has delivered a strong set of results, which show that our strategy is working and the investments made in previous years, together with a diversified portfolio, are delivering a trajectory of sustainable growth, despite ongoing global macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. Together with the continuing recognition for the craft and creativity of our content studio and the demand for our content around the world, BBC Commercial is well placed to support a robust creative and entertainment industry and cement its role as a global ambassador for the best of UK content.' Over the last few years, the company has made a series of strategic investments in its routes to market, including taking full ownership of global streamer BritBox International and enhancements to digital services for UKTV. Investment in digital platforms was key in delivering a 43% growth in revenues for the media and streaming division. BritBox International's revenues were up 20% year-on-year, with popular UK titles such as Ludwig and Blue Lights drawing in North American audiences. BBC Studios' multi-channel network, UKTV, also recorded a strong performance. Its direct-to-consumer service U grew views by a third in 2024, whilst UKTV saw total viewer hours to its VOD content across its free and pay platforms grow by 56 million hours year-on-year. Drama content performed particularly well with The Marlow Murder Club becoming the network's highest rating show of 2024, watched by 2.6 million viewers. The new and BBC app have established themselves as the key digital platforms for international audiences who want trusted, impartial BBC news. saw a 15% uplift in global visitors over the year whilst registrations have grown by 78% year-on-year, demonstrating the international reputation of the BBC brand. BBC Studios' world-class creativity continued to power its success with the business winning over 150 awards. Content highlights from the most-awarded UK production company included feature film Conclave, made by wholly owned House Productions, which won four BAFTAs and an Academy Award, wholly owned Clerkenwell Films' Baby Reindeer which won six Emmys, a 20th anniversary for Strictly Come Dancing in the UK as the popularity of the international brand, Dancing with the Stars, continues. Factual title The Americas, narrated by Tom Hanks and made for NBC, became the most-watched nature documentary on US linear television for more than fifteen years, whilst in the UK, BBC Studios helped mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day with a raft of memorable programming, including the RTS Programme Award-winning D-Day 80: Tribute to the Fallen. The business has expanded and consolidated its international production portfolio, now making programmes in ten territories worldwide. The performance of BBC Studios' brands and licensing business was led by global hit Bluey, as the children's title was named the most-streamed programme in the US in 2024, the Bluey's World immersive experience opened in Brisbane, Australia, and a much-anticipated feature film was announced in partnership with Disney+, set to arrive in cinemas in 2027. These results mean that BBC Commercial remains on track to meet its five-year returns commitment of £1.5bn by 2026/27 (a 30% increase on the previous five-year period), having already delivered £1,028m during the first three years. Pay Gap Report BBC Studios also today publishes its Pay Gap Report, showing improvements in eight of the 10 pay gaps (both median and mean) on its 2024 performance. The report also shows that over 96% of the business' female employees are in a career band with a median pay gap of less than 5%, and that 21% are in a career band with a median pay gap in favour of women. The company's median gender pay gap for 2024/25 was 10.7% (2023/24: 11.5%) and a mean gender pay gap of 11.3% (2023/24: 13.4%). BBC Studios continues to be amongst the most transparent media companies when it comes to voluntary reporting on protected characteristics, and the business intends to continue to expand its approach to transparency in future years. BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell said: 'The data in today's Pay Gap Report is encouraging, although we continue to strive to improve representation across all levels across - and all characteristics in – the business. We are taking proactive steps to address our representation through initiatives such as BBC Extend and are also working to improve our disclosure rates in order to achieve a more inclusive and representative workforce.' -Ends- For more information, please contact: About BBC Studios BBC Studios is the main commercial arm of BBC Commercial Ltd and generated revenues of £2.1 billion in the last year and profits of over £200 million for a fourth consecutive year. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the content studio, which produces, invests and distributes TV and audio globally and media & streaming, with BBC branded channels, services including UKTV, and BritBox International and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. The business made almost 3,300 hours of award-winning British programmes last year for a wide range of UK and global broadcasters and platforms. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, and includes world-famous brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC Studios | Website | Press Office | X | LinkedIn | Instagram |
The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Slovakia blocks EU move to impose new sanctions package on Russia
Update: Date: 2025-07-15T15:45:07.000Z Title: Kaja Kallas Content: EU foreign policy chief says 'ball is in Slovakia's court' after leader Robert Fico blocked 'imbecile' proposal to ban Russian gas imports from 2028 Tom Ambrose (now) and Jakub Krupa (earlier) Tue 15 Jul 2025 17.45 CEST First published on Tue 15 Jul 2025 09.27 CEST From 4.59pm CEST 16:59 EU foreign policy chief is now briefing the media after today's foreign affairs council in Brussels. She begins by talking about Ukraine and Russia: 'Russia's bombing campaign has reached record levels, and we see increasing use of banned chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine. All this shows that Russia does not want peace.' She then confirms that Slovakia blocked the adoption of the 18th package of sanctions today as she says: 'I'm really sad that we didn't reach this agreement today. I must say that we were really close to reassuring Slovakia. The commission has delivered what they asked for. Now, the ball is in Slovakia's court, and we must get this deal done. It has been already two months. Sanctions are necessary to starve Russia of the means to wage this war, and the European Union will keep rising the cost, so stopping its aggression becomes the only path forward to Moscow.' She adds that she welcomes Trump's announcements last night, but says the EU 'would like to see the US to share the burden'. 'America and Europe are working together, and if we are working together, this can put the pressure on Putin to negotiate seriously. The only way to get Putin to end this war is to force his hand,' she said. 5.45pm CEST 17:45 EU foreign ministers will discuss Russian frozen assets during an informal meeting at the end of August, EU foreign policy chief said on Tuesday after a meeting with the ministers in Brussels. 'It's important that everybody hears everybody's arguments, and then we can also come up with compromises to address these sensitivities', Kallas said. 5.25pm CEST 17:25 Joseph Gedeon Marjorie Taylor Greene has criticized Donald Trump over his new pledge to send 'billions of dollars' worth of weapons to Ukraine, accusing him of breaking a campaign promise by continuing the very aid that Republicans spent years blocking under Joe Biden. 'MAGA did not vote for more weapons to Ukraine,' the Georgia congresswoman, one of Trump's most staunch allies in Washington, wrote on X on Tuesday, referring to the 'Make America great again' moniker adopted by Trump's base of supporters. 'MAGA voted for no more US involvement in foreign wars.' Trump's Oval Office announcement on Monday with the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, represented a pivot from his longstanding position of wanting to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict quickly, and a U-turn on the administration's rhetoric towards European defence more broadly. The president said the sales would include a 'full complement' of weapons, including Patriot missiles. 'We will have some within days,' Trump said. Under the plan, he said European allies would swap existing Patriots for American-made systems and foot the bill by raising defense spending to 5% of GDP. Updated at 5.40pm CEST 5.12pm CEST 17:12 Jakub Krupa I'm handing the blog over to Tom Ambrose who will guide you through the rest of the afternoon. 5.12pm CEST 17:12 Asked what she meant by saying that the US could share more of the burden on helping Ukraine with the new military deliveries, Kallas says: 'Well, if we pay for these weapons, it's our support. it's European support, and we are doing as much as we can to help Ukraine. And therefore the call is that that everybody would do the same. If you promise to give the weapons, but say that somebody else who is going to pay for it is not really given by you, is it?' 5.07pm CEST 17:07 Separately, Kallas also spoke briefly about Georgia – worrying that 'the assault on democracy by the Georgian Dream is growing more severe' and saying that 'Georgia's democratic backsliding will come at cost' – and Moldova, stressing that the country is 'a prime target of Moscow's hybrid war' and warning that anyone attempting to destabilise the country will face EU sanctions. She later returns to Georgia, saying that suspending EU visa-free regime for Georgia could be on the table as the Georgian government needs to 'ensure and uphold the protection of fundamental rights of all Georgian citizens.' She says: 'They have been given a deadline until the end of August to comply with this. Then the question is, how do we then react if these recommendations have not been fulfilled? And as we hear that, for example, seven opposition leaders out of eight have been put in jail, this is not really in accordance with the you know, the first point that I pointed out.' She adds that the EU does not want to hurt Georgian people and take the visa-free movement away from them, but adds 'it is also an issue of credibility for the EU.' Updated at 5.10pm CEST 5.05pm CEST 17:05 Kallas was also asked about Fico's comments (15:56), addressing them in very general terms saying that 'if you go into negotiations or worries you have, [and] your sensitivities are addressed, then it's … important that you don't present any anything on top of it.' She says that further talks on technical level will continue on Wednesday, and suggests it's important to adopt the package to 'put the pressure on Russia,' but acknowledges that it's difficult to navigate the process with 27 member states. She declines to say if she sees Fico's as reasonable. 5.02pm CEST 17:02 On the Middle East, Kallas says there are 'positive signs' in the aftermath of last week's humanitarian deal between the EU and Israel when it comes to Gaza, but 'Israel needs to take more concrete steps to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground.' She added: 'I also presented ministers an inventory of different measures that could be taken in relation to the review done in June. So we had a discussion on this, and these are choices that the member states have to make. We will keep these options on the table and stand ready to act if Israel does not live up to its pledges. The aim is not to punish Israel. The aim is to really improve the situation in Gaza.' 4.59pm CEST 16:59 EU foreign policy chief is now briefing the media after today's foreign affairs council in Brussels. She begins by talking about Ukraine and Russia: 'Russia's bombing campaign has reached record levels, and we see increasing use of banned chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine. All this shows that Russia does not want peace.' She then confirms that Slovakia blocked the adoption of the 18th package of sanctions today as she says: 'I'm really sad that we didn't reach this agreement today. I must say that we were really close to reassuring Slovakia. The commission has delivered what they asked for. Now, the ball is in Slovakia's court, and we must get this deal done. It has been already two months. Sanctions are necessary to starve Russia of the means to wage this war, and the European Union will keep rising the cost, so stopping its aggression becomes the only path forward to Moscow.' She adds that she welcomes Trump's announcements last night, but says the EU 'would like to see the US to share the burden'. 'America and Europe are working together, and if we are working together, this can put the pressure on Putin to negotiate seriously. The only way to get Putin to end this war is to force his hand,' she said. 3.56pm CEST 15:56 Slovak prime minister Robert Fico has just publicly responded to the earlier Reuters report on the European Commission's reassurances for the country as officials seek to break the deadlock on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Making the letter public on Facebook, Fico said the proposal was shared with leaders of other parties and rejected as insufficient, so the country will continue to delay the adoption of the latest round of sanctions on Russia. In the letter, first reported by Reuters (14:08), European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said officials worked on 'an ambitious and comprehensive work plan with Slovakia in recognition of the particular challenges stemming from national circumstances' and commited to 'addressing the specific challenges for Slovakia.' But Fico reiterated his opposition to 'imbecile' proposal to ban Russian gas imports from 2028, but said he was ready to negotiate on further guarantees that would make the proposal work for Slovakia, saying 'the best solution' would be to grant an exception to continue the existing gas delivery contract until its scheduled end in 2034. While the gas proposal is unrelated to the sanctions package, Fico said he was linking the two to leverage Slovakia's position in the talks, as sanctions required unanimity among the member states. In the meantime, the Slovak representative at today's foreign affairs council was told to request that the vote on the sanction package be delayed, he said. Updated at 4.04pm CEST 3.40pm CEST 15:40 Sam Levin In other news, we reported earlier today on a disturbing story of an Irish tourist jailed by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for months after overstaying US visit by three days. From there, what should have been a minor incident became a nightmarish ordeal: he was detained by Ice in three different facilities, ultimately spending roughly 100 days behind bars with little understanding of why he was being held – or when he'd get out. 'Nobody is safe from the system if they get pulled into it,' said Thomas, in a recent interview from his home in Ireland, a few months after his release. Thomas asked to be identified by a nickname out of fear of facing further consequences with US immigration authorities. Despite immediately agreeing to deportation when he was first arrested, Thomas remained in Ice detention after Donald Trump took office and dramatically ramped up immigration arrests. Amid increased overcrowding in detention, Thomas was forced to spend part of his time in custody in a federal prison for criminal defendants, even though he was being held on an immigration violation. Thomas was sent back to Ireland in March and was told he was banned from entering the US for 10 years. Thomas's ordeal follows a rise in reports of tourists and visitors with valid visas being detained by Ice, including from Australia, Germany, Canada and the UK. In April, an Irish woman who is a US green card holder was also detained by Ice for 17 days due to a nearly two-decade-old criminal record. The arrests appear to be part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration, which has pushed to deport students with alleged ties to pro-Palestinian protests; sent detainees to Guantánamo Bay and an El Salvador prison without presenting evidence of criminality; deported people to South Sudan, a war-torn country where the deportees had no ties; and escalated large-scale, militarized raids across the US. Read Thomas's story here: 2.49pm CEST 14:49 Meanwhile, Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson confirmed to Reuters that the country will contribute to efforts to boost arms supplies to Ukraine following US president Donald Trump's decision to supply billions of dollars of weapons. 'We welcome the American decision to make possible increased sanctions against Russia and to pave the way for the delivery of Patriots and other weapon systems to Ukraine,' Jonson said in an emailed comment to Reuters. 'Sweden will contribute,' he added, without offering further details. 2.39pm CEST 14:39 Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal has just confirmed he filed his resignation from the post, a day after president Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked his deputy, Yulia Svyrydenko, to lead the government after a reshuffle. In a Telegram message posted alongside a picture of his hand-written resignation note, he said: 'Thank you to our defenders who are holding the front and protecting Ukraine! Thank you to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the trust! Thank you to the entire team for their tireless work for our country! Glory to Ukraine!' Updated at 2.43pm CEST 2.17pm CEST 14:17 There is a major news story breaking in the UK about thousands of people being relocated to the UK as part of a secret £850m scheme set up after a personal data leak of Afghans who supported British forces. PA news agency reported that a dataset containing the personal information of nearly 19,000 people who applied for the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap) was released 'in error' by a defence official in February 2022. The breach resulted in the creation of a secret Afghan relocation scheme – the Afghanistan Response Route – in April 2024. The scheme is understood to have cost about £400m so far, with a projected cost once completed of about £850m. Millions more is expected to be paid in legal costs and compensation. You can follow live updates here:
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
7 discounted EVs you can buy through government's controversial new tax payer-funded scheme
A NEW £650 million grant will knock up to £3,750 off the price of low-priced EVs, the government has revealed. A new Electric Car Grant will see taxpayers foot the bill for EVs costing under £37,000, and only models from brands that have committed to a so-called Science-Based Target (SBT) for emissions. 7 According to Auto Express, fewer than 50 new EV models would be eligible for the grant - provided they pass the necessary criteria. The scheme will also provide additional support for electric car purchases for Motability customers - as revealed in The Sun's recent report - offering substantial discounts. This has raised concerns among some critics, who argue that taxpayers may effectively be contributing twice - once through the Motability scheme and again through the EV grant subsidies. Furthermore, some welfare users have expressed difficulties with EVs, with issues such as limited home charging facilities and inadequate public charging infrastructure causing frustration for some. Despite these concerns, supporters of the scheme, including Motability Operations, emphasise that including Motability users in the EV grant is vital to ensure the transition to electric vehicles remains inclusive and supports disabled drivers. A spokesperson from Motability Operations told The Sun: 'We welcome the Government's Electric Car Grant and the inclusion of our customers. 'It's vital that the EV transition is inclusive and doesn't leave disabled people behind. 'With the 2035 deadline on the horizon, any move that supports both drivers and the wider industry and improves positivity towards EVs is welcome.' Recent findings, though, found that drivers with ailments including constipation and "tennis elbow" were being funded by the Motability scheme. Some influencers have even been found to boast online about obtaining these vehicles for minimal costs, and even advising others on how to maximise their benefits. Alpine A290 GTS delivers a hot hatch EV that comes with F1-style 'overtake button' SHOPPING LIST There are also several key points to keep in mind before you set out to choose your shiny new discontinued EV. Firstly, the scheme will not be immediately accessible - even though it officially launches on July 16. This is because car brands must apply for eligibility for the vehicles in their ranges, rather than buyers being able to register grants at the point of purchase. Also, not all grants will amount to £3,750 as the scheme adopts a two-tier system, with the value deducted from the recommended retail price (RRP) depending on how environmentally friendly the manufacturing process is for each model. According to the RAC, these restrictions encourage drivers to choose models that are not only cost-effective, but also more sustainable for the planet. To that end, we've picked out seven EV examples that could get the EV grant - though it remains to be seen if they will meet the criteria for the full subsidy of £3,750. Dacia Spring - Priced from £14,995 7 The nation's cheapest EV at £14,995 (if we look past the Cit r oen Ami, which is classed as a motorised quadricycle), the Spring, could be about to get a whole lot cheaper - if it meets the EV grant's criteria. The little EV, which boasts up to 140 miles of range - certainly enough for a trip to the shops and back - certainly doesn't boast many frills, but it's rather great for simple, daily use. Fiat Grande Panda - Priced from £21,035 One of the world's most famous nameplates is back, bigger and better than ever. The Panda, known as the national car of Italy, starts at around £21,035 for its electric iteration and has been given a radical new look. And, as the name suggests, it's a little bigger - somewhat similar in size to its Stellantis cousin, the Citroen C3 - with enough space that Fiat described as 'perfect for comfortable family living and contemporary urban mobility'. Peugeot e-208 - Priced from £30,150 Stylish and well-rounded, the e-208 is one of the finest all electric hatchbacks available - offering excellent performance alongside practicality, making it one of the most popular choices in its price range. It features a 50kWh battery and a 100kW electric motor, offering a range of up to 225 miles. Better yet, a GTI version is coming soon in what we described as a huge nod to an 80s classic. MG4 - Priced from £26,995 The MG4, often praised for its value for money, impressive range - which starts at 218 miles for the standard edition - and modern features, it's also one of the best EVs around for families thanks to surprising levels of space inside. Better yet, its suspension is tuned for comfort on long journeys, absorbing minor road imperfections. Fiat 500e - Priced from £25,035 7 One of the nation's favourite petrol-powered little cars was discontinued last year, with Fiat now urging buyers to get their 500 thrills from the all-electric 500e. The iconic design is still there, but with the benefits of electric driving - offering a compact and efficient option for city drivers. Volkswagen ID.3 - Priced from £30,860 One of the most refined options available for under £37,000, the ID.3 delivers a comfortable ride, good range and the reliability associated with VW. Better yet, it offers user-friendly features, decent charging speeds and a good overall value, particularly when considering running costs. Honourable mentions: Alpine A290: instantly iconic and one of the most fun cars - electric or otherwise - on the market, the A290, which starts at £33,000, has won numerous awards and plaudits. MINI Cooper Electric: another hot hatch that's high on the fun factor, the famous Cooper now comes electric - including all the fun driving dynamics you'd come to expect.
