UK sanctions Russian spies accused of assassination attempts, cyber attacks and sabotage | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Russian spies, cyber attacks, assassination attempts, sabotage, sanctions, Novichok nerve agent, Scrippals, Ukraine war, oil price cap, EU sanctions, Russian economy, destabilization of Europe.

Sanctions Against Russian Spies

• The British government has sanctioned 18 Russian spies, accusing them of a long campaign of cyber attacks, arson, and attempted assassinations in the UK and across Europe.
• These actions include the chemical attack in Salisbury seven years ago, where Russian military intelligence agents used Novichok nerve agent on the door handle of Sergei Scrippal, a KGB defector, and his daughter Yulia.
• Five years prior to the Salisbury attack, the spies allegedly hacked into Yulia's phone to track her movements.
• The Foreign Secretary stated that the UK sees what the Kremlin is trying to do and will not tolerate it, hence the sanctions.

Examples of Alleged Actions

• Some of the sanctioned individuals are alleged to have helped bomb the Ukrainian city of Mariupol three years ago, specifically targeting its theater, which was clearly marked as sheltering children.
• Around 300 people were reportedly killed in this incident, considered one of the worst atrocities of the Ukraine war.

New EU Sanctions on Russian Oil

• Britain has joined new EU sanctions against Russia, which aim to reduce Russia's revenue from oil exports.
• The new package of EU sanctions lowers the price cap on legal oil purchases from $60 to $47.
• France believes this move will hit Moscow hard enough to force a ceasefire with Ukraine.

Russia's Response and the Effectiveness of Sanctions

• Dmitri Medvedev stated that the Russian economy will survive the 18th package of EU sanctions and that Moscow will continue to hit Ukraine with increasing force.
• Western sanctions have largely failed so far, as China and India continue to buy significant amounts of Russian oil.
• The only way sanctions would truly impact Russia is if President Trump were to impose sanctions on anyone buying Moscow's oil.

The Ongoing War in Ukraine

• Russia shows no sign of wanting a ceasefire and is instead focused on destabilizing Europe and punishing countries like Britain that support Ukraine.
• The war has damaged some of Russia's oil facilities, as a result of Ukrainian drone attacks.

Conclusion

The imposition of sanctions by the UK and the EU aims to curtail Russia's aggressive actions, but their effectiveness is questionable due to ongoing oil purchases by countries like China and India. The war in Ukraine continues, with Russia showing no inclination towards de-escalation. The situation remains volatile, with potential for further destabilization in Europe.