UK Sanctions Russians Over Ukraine Chemical Attacks

Britain on Monday placed sanctions on two Russian individuals and one Russian entity for the transfer and use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. It imposed asset freezes and travel bans on Aleksey Viktorovich Rtishchev and Andrei Marchenko, the head and deputy head of Russia’s radiological, chemical, and biological defence troops. The Joint Stock Company Federal Scientific and Production Centre Scientific Research Institute of Applied Chemistry was sanctioned for supplying the Russian military with RG-Vo riot control grenades, whose use in warfare contravenes the International Chemical Weapons Convention

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office announced that the sanctions would include asset freezes and travel bans on those responsible. Among the targets is a Russian state research institute known to have links to Moscow’s chemical weapons program. Officials said the measures are designed to hold accountable those who continue to violate international norms, particularly the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Russia is a signatory.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the UK’s commitment to international law, stating that the use of chemical weapons, including substances like chloropicrin and tear gas, is not only illegal under international agreements but also deeply immoral. He noted that these weapons have reportedly been used by Russian forces against Ukrainian troops in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

“By sanctioning those involved, we are sending a clear message that the UK and its partners will not tolerate the use of banned chemical agents on the battlefield,” Lammy said.

According to British officials, these sanctions are part of a coordinated effort with international allies to increase pressure on Russia as its invasion of Ukraine continues into its third year. The newly sanctioned individuals include high-ranking military and scientific personnel believed to be directly involved in the production and use of chemical agents.

This is not the first time the UK has sanctioned Russia over chemical weapons. In previous years, sanctions were imposed after high-profile incidents, including the poisoning of political opponents and the suspected use of nerve agents on British soil.

The UK government insists that these latest actions are necessary to prevent further atrocities and to uphold global security standards. The use of chemical weapons is widely considered a red line in modern warfare, and violations are met with serious diplomatic and economic consequences.

The sanctions come as part of a broader UK policy to support Ukraine, which includes military aid, humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic backing. British authorities believe that international unity is key to deterring further aggression and ensuring accountability.

With tensions between Russia and the West still high, these latest sanctions underline the UK’s role as a leading voice against the use of banned weapons and its continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and the rule of law.