Britain announced Tuesday a tough new wave of sanctions aimed at disrupting the crypto and financial networks Russia uses to bypass Western restrictions and sustain its war against Ukraine.
The measures target crypto exchanges, shadow finance systems, and sanctions evasion routes that the Kremlin increasingly relies on as existing penalties continue to strain the Russian economy.
The new sanctions package places emphasis on the Kremlin-linked A7 network, which UK authorities say uses Kyrgyzstan’s financial infrastructure to move funds into Russia’s war economy. The network allegedly processed more than $90 billion last year through military procurement channels and oil-related transactions supporting Moscow’s war effort.
The UK says it is leading the international push to modernize sanctions enforcement and move faster against evolving Russian evasion tactics. Officials argue Russia’s economic position is deteriorating under pressure, pointing to Moscow’s recent decision to slash its projected 2026 growth forecast from 1.3% to 0.4% while also cutting its 2027 outlook in half.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said there would be “no safe havens” for those enabling Russian aggression through crypto and illicit financial systems. She stressed that Britain would continue tracking and shutting down the financial lifelines sustaining Putin’s war machine while coordinating closely with international allies.
