UK leads way in disrupting shadowy Russian sanctions evasion network

Chancellor calls on allies to step up their pressure on Russia and sets out new action to stop Putin evading sanctions to fund his illegal war.

The Chancellor has called on allies to step up their pressure on Russia, as he sets out new actions to stop Putin evading sanctions to fund his illegal war.

The Chancellor has used his first international meetings with counterparts to build an international coalition to target covert Russian networks funding Putin’s illegal war.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the government have today (Monday 31 August) issued the first ever nationwide alert against A7 to support the private sector in bearing down on sanctions evasion and ensure Russia pays the full cost of the sanctions.

The alert aims to disrupt Kremlin-backed networks who have sought to circumvent international financial and trade sanctions through a complex web of financial structures spanning multiple jurisdictions. This alert aims to prevent Russian attempts to regain access to our financial systems.

The A7 network has also been linked to Iranian state-associated actors, reinforcing the need to tackle head-on the network’s role in facilitating sanctions evasion and illicit financial activity.

The UK Government supports US work to secure a diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict and welcomes efforts to increase pressure on Iran, including through Operation Economic Outcast.