The British authorities, in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, on Tuesday distributed an updated sanctions list with technical changes in relation to 195 Russian individuals and legal entities included in it, there are no new defendants on the list.
According to the document, changes have been made, in particular, to the data of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Nikolai Evmenov and his deputies, who fell under sanctions in March, as well as to sanctioned members of the Federation Council and the State Duma.
Also, technical changes have been made to the data of the Deputy Ministers of Defense of the Russian Federation Alexander Fomin, Alexei Krivoruchko, Yuri Sadovenko, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Timur Ivanov. The data of a number of other Russian military personnel has also been updated.
Ukraine has received two batches of mobile power generators in a total of 177 received from the UK to maintain the reliability of the country’s energy supply, the Ministry of Energy said in a statement.
“In total, the UK announced the transfer of more than 500 portable generators, which will be used by both public and commercial energy companies to provide sustainable power to social facilities, homes, businesses,” the ministry said.
The generators will become a backup source of power in the event of a power outage as a result of enemy shelling of electrical networks and equipment.
“One of our main tasks is to provide our citizens, businesses, the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a stable energy supply. At a time when the Russian invaders are destroying our power grids and critical energy infrastructure, these generators will become an additional guarantee of a reliable energy supply for Ukrainians,” Minister of Energy German Galushchenko stressed. .
As informed in the Ministry of Energy, in the near future, deliveries of the following batches of mobile power generators from the UK are expected.
The UK will increase economic and sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, in particular, will affect its ability to use its energy resources, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
“It is necessary to provide all kinds of support to Ukraine and together with partners we will increase economic pressure, and we will intensify sanctions against Russia every week. We will not be limited to asset freezes or sanctions against oligarchs – we will also affect Russia’s ability to use its energy resources,” Johnson said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday in Kyiv.
Ukraine’s spending on the development and procurement of weapons and military hardware in 2022 has been increased by UAH 67.57 billion with UK loans totaling 1.7 billion and aimed at bolstering capacities of the Ukrainian Navy.
The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada adopted the respective bill by 342 votes on Tuesday.
The bill enlarges this year’s budget expenditures from UAH 1,525.930 trillion to UAH 1,593.5 trillion with the special fund’s growth to UAH 221.11 billion.
Meanwhile, the budget deficit ceiling was raised from UAH 188.8 billion to UAH 256.36 billion, including UAH 96.1 billion for the special fund.
In addition, the budget no longer has restrictions at the amount of 3% of the planned revenue for the provision of state guarantees, as well as restrictions at the amount of UAH 10 billion and UAH 20 billion, respectively, for the provision of portfolio guarantees and loan guarantees, in order to increase the national defense capacity.
The bill limits road fund expenditures. “The money will be primarily spent on repaying the state debt, defense, and the development and maintenance of roads,” the Servant of the People faction said in comment on the bill.
An explanatory note says that Ukraine will be implementing state investment projects to purchase two minesweepers from British suppliers, to deliver and service these minesweepers, to ensure the joint construction of eight missile craft, and to deliver and install weapons on the available ships. It is also planned to jointly build a frigate and to receive advisory and technical support for the construction of naval infrastructure, including the delivery of equipment.
At the end of January, the Verkhovna Rada ratified a framework intergovernmental agreement on loan funding of the development of the Ukrainian Navy. The agreement was signed in London on November 12, 2021, to envisage allocations for the construction of eight missile craft, the procurement of two minesweepers from the UK, and the opening of two naval bases in Ukraine.
The UK denies Russia and Belarus access to Most Favored Nation tariff for hundreds of their exports, imposes a 35% import duty on a number of Russian goods, including vodka, and, same as the European Union, bans exports of luxury goods to Russia, the British government said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The UK denies Russia and Belarus access to Most Favored Nation tariff for hundreds of their exports, depriving both nations key benefits of WTO membership,” the statement said.
Same as the EU, London bans “exports of luxury goods to Russia alongside its G7 allies,” the statement said. The ban applies to vehicles, clothes and art.
The British government also “published an initial list of goods worth GBP 900 million – including vodka – which will now face an additional 35 percent tariff, on top of current tariffs,” the statement said.
BANS, EXPORT, LUXURY GOODS, RUSSIA, UK
The UK has sent humanitarian aid to Moldova for Ukrainian citizens who are fleeing the country due to the Russian invasion, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.
“We are providing vital humanitarian aid to those fleeing Russia’s horrific attack on Ukraine. This shipment of hygiene kits and blankets to Moldova will ensure that those most affected by the conflict receive the crucial help they need,” the minister said on Twitter.
