Europe Asia News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine announced that it welcomes the UK government’s sanctions against Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, and its officers responsible for terrorist attacks and cyber operations conducted in Ukraine and European countries.

The statement emphasized that these sanctions strengthen the joint efforts of the international community against Russia’s state-sponsored terrorist activities and hybrid warfare methods. Ukrainian officials noted that Russia has long carried out sabotage, cyberattacks, and destabilizing operations across Europe, and that the UK’s move is part of a “firm international stance.”

The Ministry highlighted the role of the United Kingdom in initiatives aimed at strengthening global security, stressing that pressure on Russia is crucial both for accountability and for halting its aggression. The statement also recalled that last year the UK imposed sanctions on Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces for the use of chemical weapons, underscoring London’s consistent approach.

It was further noted that the international community has, for three consecutive years, blocked Russia’s attempts to join the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Ukraine stated that this stance confirms that “there is no place for an aggressor state in a structure working to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

The Ministry stressed that increasing sanctions pressure on Russia is vital to limiting its war-fighting capacity. “Increasing pressure on the aggressor state, together with international assistance supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities, is the most effective path toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace,” the statement said.

Ukraine added that it will continue cooperating with the United Kingdom and other international partners to protect critical infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity, and counter all forms of Russian aggression. The statement concluded: “Stopping Russia’s aggressive behavior is only possible through a determined and coordinated international response.”