The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on a Nigerian firm accused of supporting a financial network allegedly used by Russia to evade international sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine.
The move is part of a broader sanctions package announced on Tuesday by the UK government, targeting 70 individuals, entities and vessels linked to Russia’s military procurement networks, illicit finance operations and the so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.
According to a statement by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the new measures are aimed at disrupting Russia’s ability to circumvent Western sanctions and finance its military activities in Ukraine.
The UK said the latest sanctions package targets “three companies and 10 GRU officers suspected of acquiring military technology that Russia desperately needs to sustain its military aggression in Ukraine.”
On the Nigeria-linked firm, the statement said, “Sanctions also hit third-country suppliers of critical military equipment to Russia in China, Thailand and Türkiye.
“Several organisations helping Russia illegally move money, bypassing Western sanctions, are also targeted, including one entity in Nigeria supporting the illicit finance network A7’s sanctions-evasion scheme.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the sanctions were designed to cut off the vessels, money and individuals sustaining Russia’s war economy.
“These sanctions target the vessels, the money and the actors propping up Russia’s war economy and, in turn, threatening European security,” Starmer said.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Kremlin had increasingly relied on covert financial networks and ageing vessels to sustain its war effort.
“As the Kremlin resorts to ever more shady tactics to sustain its war, from its ageing shadow fleet to covert finance networks, the UK remains one step ahead in shutting them down,” she said.
UK said it has sanctioned almost 500 individuals, entities and vessels under its Russia sanctions regime in 2026 alone.
By: Saheed Oyelakin
