UK Sanctions 85 Russia-Linked People and Entities

Officials said 29 of those targeted are thought to have helped Russia forcibly deport and militarise Ukrainian children. More than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia and the territories it has occupied, according to the UK Foreign Office.

A further 56 individuals and organisations were designated to stem the production of pro-Moscow narratives. The sanctions aim to disrupt activities that officials described as interfering with democracy and undermining Ukraine's future. The measures were announced as part of a broader government crackdown.

The first group of 29 people and entities is linked to the removal of children from Ukraine. Officials stated that the children have been subjected to deportation and what they called militarisation and indoctrination. The second group of 56 focuses on those involved in generating narratives supportive of Moscow's position.

The UK government said it will not stand by while efforts to spread such narratives continue. The sanctions are intended to expose and disrupt these activities. No further details on the specific identities of those sanctioned were provided in the announcement.