He United Kingdom Government This Friday decided to advance with the most severe sanctions in its history against Russian intelligence agentswith the aim of exposing the clandestine networks that operate under direct orders of the Kremlin. The measure affected 18 spies already three units of Grubaccused of performing destabilizing actions internationally.
Among those sanctioned are Ivan Sergeyevich Yermakov, Aleksey Viktorovich Lukashev and the Gruc 26165who were identified as responsible for cyber attack against emails of Yulia Skripalprior to the poisoning attempt with Novichok that affected her and her father, the ex -spy Sergei Skripalin Salisbury.
As they said, the Russian agents They operated under false identitieseven posing as women. In addition, the investigation showed that in 2013 They would have introduced malicious software X-Agentwhich was then used in events prior to the attempt of murder perpetrated in 2018.
A message from the United Kingdom Government
He Foreign Secretary, David Lammyjustified the measure and explained that the United Kingdom “It is strengthening the threats and hybrid aggression of Putin”
In addition, he warned: “The spies of the Gru campaign to destabilize Europeundermine the sovereignty of Ukraine and threaten the safety of British citizens. “
“The Kremlin should have no doubts: we see what they try to do in the shade and we will not tolerate it. That is why, so, We act with sanctions against the Russian spies”He said.
In that line, Lammy added: “Protecting the United Kingdom is a fundamental part of the plan of this government”
Russian spies links with war and cybernetic attacks
Among those involved are agents involved in the Bombing of the Mariupol Theateroccurred on March 16, 2022, where They died hundreds of civilians, including children.
They are also responsible for computer attacks directed against British institutions, Ukrainian organisms and European countriesamong them the Hackeo of the Olympic Games of Paris 2024.
Russian intelligence services, as detailed, pointed against media, Telecommunications operators, Energy infrastructure And even political entities in British territory.
Other sanctions for misinformation
In addition to the agents of the Gruhe United Kingdom imposed sanctions a Three leaders linked to the so -called “African Initiative”an misinformation network created by the Kremlin.
This structure, indicated from London, sought to disseminate conspiracy theoriesweaken campaigns Global health and reinforce the objectives Russian geopolitics.
In that frame, Lammy said: “These They are not isolated actions. They are part of a broader campaign of the Gru to destabilize Europe, undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and threaten British security. ”
The sanctions to those involved
With this decision, the United Kingdom government established financial limitations and Migratory restrictions For the Russian spies and the officials linked to Grubas part of its strategy to face the threat that the Kremlin undercover operations in European land.
These actions are registered within a hardening of British foreign policy and mark a new chapter in the diplomatic conflict between London and Moscowin a context of growing tension by war in Ukraine and destabilization maneuvers promoted from Russia.
Source: Ambito
