Ukrainians have been left 'very disappointed' by the Government's decision, which campaigners have argued amounts to 'sacrificing' them on an altar of oil prices15:32, 20 May 2026The Government has been accused "sacrificing Ukrainians" for oil prices after watering down Russian sanctions to remedy the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure.‌On Tuesday, ministers announced that diesel and jet fuel from Russian crude oil would be allowed to enter the UK, provided it is refined in other nations - a major departure from the previous blanket ban introduced following Vladimir Putin's Ukraine invasion. The waiver, which starts today, is set to include Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and is designed to prevent gas prices from spiralling amid the US-Israel war with Iran.‌But the decision has come under fire from advocacy groups, who have shared their disappointment for what they believe amounts to "sacrificing" Ukrainians the country has supported since 2022.‌READ MORE: Milk, egg and bread prices could be capped as Government urges supermarkets to actREAD MORE: Ten airlines cancelling and grounding flights this summer because of the fuel crisisFlossie Boyd, senior campaigner for Global Witness, a campaigning organisation that investigates environmental and human rights abuses, said the watering down was "deeply disappointing". She said the Government should be shifting its focus to peace and energy security through renewable means.Ms Boyd said: "It's deeply disappointing to see the UK government water down sanctions on Russian oil, sacrificing the Ukrainians for an oil price crisis that has been created by the US and Israel's war in the Gulf.‌"Oil has been a major source of revenue for the Kremlin and Putin's war in Ukraine, while continued dependence on fossil fuels leaves households exposed to price shocks, drives conflict and worsens the climate crisis. After four years of war, the focus should be on peace and energy security through renewables, and reducing dependence on violent, authoritarian petrostates."Further outrage has come from Labour politicians, including Emily Thornberry, the MP for Islington South and Finsbury, who said she had heard from people in Ukraine say they were "very disappointed". She told BBC Radio's Today programme: "We're talking about our allies in Ukraine who have been fighting a war bravely against Russia for years and years, with our support, and they have looked to Britain as one of their most important allies, and they don't understand."‌The move has also come under fire as a poor financial decision that is unlikely to bring prices down in the UK. Robin Mills, the chief executive of Qamar Energy, an energy consultancy firm based in Dubai, told the same programme it would also not attack the feared oil shortages.‌He said: "In that sense this measure looks unnecessary, its not going to bring down prices but its also not going to attack the shortage that probably wasn't going to happen anyway." A Government spokesperson said "a new wave of tighter restrictions" had been placed on Russia before the move, "including further export and import bans".Among the restrictions, they said, were bars on "the sale of refined oil products derived from Russian crude oil and the import, supply and delivery to third countries of Russian uranium".Article continues belowThey added: "The sanctions also include a new maritime services ban on Russian LNG which will progressively restrict Russia's access to the UK's world-leading shipping and insurance services, disrupting their ability to transport Russian LNG. Our support for Ukraine is unwavering - these additional sanctions will further restrict Russian revenues and degrade its ability to wage Putin's illegal war in Ukraine."The Daily Mirror has approached the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and HM Treasury for additional comment.