UK sanctions people, entities for recruiting migrants to fight for Russia against Ukraine
Britain Targets Trafficking and Recruitment Networks Supporting Russia
LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) - Britain on Tuesday unveiled sanctions against 35 people and entities it said were involved in recruiting vulnerable migrants to fight for Russia against Ukraine and produce drones for use in the conflict.
Sanctions Announced Under Global Irregular Migration Regime
The Foreign Office announced 17 designations under its global irregular migration sanctions regime, relating to what it said were trafficking networks facilitating the travel of people to be sent "to the front line as cannon fodder."
Countries Affected by Trafficking Networks
The sanctions relate to the trafficking of people from countries including Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen to fight in Ukraine, but also to travel to Poland and Finland for the purpose of causing destabilisation, the Foreign Office said.
Additional Sanctions Under Russia Sanctions Regime
Britain also added 18 designations under its Russia sanctions regime, several relating to the Alabuga Start programme, which the Foreign Office described as "a Russian recruitment scheme that hires individuals from outside Russia, usually from economically insecure backgrounds."
Alabuga Start Programme and Drone Production
Those recruited, who are largely from Cameroon, are put to work at a plant located 500 miles (800 km) east of Moscow in the Republic of Tatarstan to produce drones, the ministry said.
Official Statements on Sanctions
Comments from Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty
Sanctions minister Stephen Doughty said in a statement: "The practice of exploiting vulnerable people to prop up Russia's failing and illegal war in Ukraine is barbaric."
Impact of Sanctions on Trafficking and Drone Production
He added that the sanctions would "disrupt the operations of those trafficking migrants as cannon fodder and feeding (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's drone factories with illicit components".
Broader Context: UK and European Defence Ties
Britain on Sunday said it was ready to enter talks to join the European Union's 90 billion euro ($105 billion) loan to Ukraine, a further sign of deepening European defence ties.
Currency Exchange Rates
($1 = 0.7385 pounds)
($1 = 0.8560 euros)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Sarah Young and Thomas Derpinghaus)
