UK sanctions 31 Russia-linked targets but extends Asian LNG licences
Britain targeted Russia-linked people, entities and ships while keeping exemptions for LNG deliveries to Japan and South Korea.
Update ·
Updated with new reports from our sources.
Britain announced 31 new sanctions against Russia, covering people, companies and ships, while extending licences that allow Japan and South Korea to continue buying Russian liquefied natural gas, according to the reports in the supplied material. Europe minister Lord Wood of Anfield said the measures targeted both revenue linked to Russia's war effort and people accused of abuses against Ukrainian civilians.
Among those listed are people accused of unlawful detention and torture of Ukrainian civilians and individuals linked to Russian-run detention sites in occupied parts of Ukraine, according to Kyiv Post. The package also includes people tied to pro-Kremlin influence operations and Novatek Gas and Power Asia, an energy company linked to the Yamal gas project in western Siberia.
The sanctions include LNG carriers and other vessels subject to UK shipping restrictions. The existing ECTV report says the package covers 23 sanctioned people and entities plus eight ships. The new reports merged into the story repeat that same breakdown and do not add a different total.
Five LNG carriers named in the existing report are Chaivo, Portovyy, Aleksey Kosygin, Konstantin Posyet and Pyotr Stolypin. The listed ships can no longer call at UK ports or use a wide range of British shipping services. Three of those vessels were described in the supplied material as high ice-class ships built for Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project.
The package also covers three tankers linked to Russia's shadow fleet and two vessels used for bunkering, according to the existing report. Ukraine's sanctions chief Vladyslav Vlasiuk welcomed the action and said Russia's Arctic gas revenues should remain restricted.
Britain has kept exemptions allowing LNG from the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia's Far East to continue reaching Japan and South Korea. The government described those exemptions as support for the two countries while they reduce dependence on Russian energy. The material says the European Union granted similar carve-outs to Tokyo and Seoul in July.
The merged reports add no material factual change to the published account. The wider UK ban on maritime and insurance services linked to Russian LNG shipments remains due to begin on 1 January 2027, according to the existing article.
What we know
- The UK package totals 31 sanctions.
- The published breakdown is 23 people and entities plus eight ships.
- The measures target revenue, alleged abuses against Ukrainian civilians and pro-Kremlin influence operations.
- UK exemptions continue for some Russian LNG deliveries to Japan and South Korea.
- The wider UK maritime and insurance-services ban linked to Russian LNG is due to begin on 1 January 2027.
Why it matters for Europe
The package combines pressure on Russian energy shipping with sanctions tied to alleged abuses and disinformation activity. At the same time, the UK continues limited LNG exemptions for Japan and South Korea, leaving both restrictive and transitional energy measures in force.
Updates
·
Updated with new reports from our sources.
First published.
Sources
Reported by 2 reports from 2 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- The Kyiv Independent: UK passes new Russia sanctions, but with LNG loophole for Asian allies
- gCaptain (maritime): UK Sanctions Five LNG Carriers in New Russia Package
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Questions and answers
- How many new UK sanctions were announced?
- The package totals 31 measures: 23 people and entities plus eight ships in the published breakdown.
- What do the sanctions target?
- They target Russia-linked revenue, vessels, alleged abuses against Ukrainian civilians and influence operations.
- Does the UK still allow some Russian LNG deliveries?
- Yes. Exemptions remain for LNG deliveries from Sakhalin-2 to Japan and South Korea.
This article was written with AI assistance from 2 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.