Britain approves new restrictions against Russia for war in Ukraine

On December 14, 2023, the UK government approved a bill that would impose restrictions on goods, technologies and sources of funding that could support Russia's war in Ukraine, UNN reports. 

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The approved document bans the import of certain Russian metals. In addition, the British government announced a separate law banning the import of diamonds from Russia.

The document also contains a number of financial measures aimed at supporting companies that have decided to refuse to trade with Russia. The document also strengthens restrictions against the Russian financial sector and will require greater transparency in asset declarations in the UK.

It is noted that the bill prohibits the export of a number of goods that can be used by Russia for military or industrial purposes, as well as the latest technologies that Ukraine has found on the battlefield, including electronics.

Given the low level of trade between the UK and Russia, these sanctions will continue to deprive Russia of goods that it can use in its war. In fact, only exports of low-risk goods, humanitarian, food and medical supplies will remain free of sanctions 

These measures will take effect on December 26.

As a reminder, experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise have repeatedly found foreign microelectronics and technical components in Russian weapons used against Ukraine.

SEE ALSO: Without imported electronics, Russian missiles are unusable - Ruvin 

Earlier, experts of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise have already established that the components of Iranian "Shahed" missiles, which Russian war criminals use to strike Ukraine, come from 36 countries. Most of the electronics components are manufactured at enterprises in the United States, Japan and Europe.

"We were able to identify Iran (as the country of origin of the components - ed.) only on the engine and its components. Moreover, most of the engine is, again, European," the experts noted.

There are also Russian elements in the examined drones. But the experts, who have fully restored the UAV's layout and functional diagrams, noted that parts from Russia account for no more than 15% of the total number of components.

SEE ALSO: From Modern Microelectronics to Mounting Foam - Ruvin on the Evolution of "Shaheds"

Economic analysts are convinced that Russia is taking advantage of confusing trade routes and the ability to import sanctioned goods, including microcircuits, through third countries. This makes it possible to bypass export controls, which, in particular, would include semiconductor technologies.  But Russia imports  them through China, Turkey, the UAE, and other countries.

Typically, a shipment that eventually reaches Russia may be sold and resold several times, often through legitimate companies, before eventually reaching a neutral intermediary country.

Evidence suggests that China is by far the largest exporter to Russia of microchips and other technologies used in critical weapons.