UK Sanctions Russian Military Intelligence Unit for Cyberattacks and Sabotage Operations
London,UK – The British government has imposed sanctions on Russia’s military intelligence agency,the GRU,and several of its units,including Unit 26165,for a pattern of malicious cyber activities and disruptive operations. These actions, detailed by the British foreign ministry, include online reconnaissance on civilian bomb shelters in Ukraine and targeting individuals with malware.
On March 15, 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Unit 26165 reportedly conducted online reconnaissance on civilian bomb shelters in Mariupol and Kharkiv. This activity occurred just before the Mariupol theater, where civilians had painted “children” on the exterior in a plea for safety, was hit by Russian airstrikes the following day. An Associated Press examination indicated that approximately 600 people, including many children, died in that attack.
The GRU’s activities are not limited to the current conflict. In 2013, officers from the same unit allegedly targeted the daughter of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal with malware. Skripal and his daughter Yulia were later poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury, England, in 2018, an attack the British government attributed to Russian intelligence.
The sanctions also extend to the Africa Initiative, which the foreign ministry stated is used by Russian intelligence officers to conduct facts operations in Africa. These operations reportedly aim to undermine public health programs and destabilize countries on the continent.
The Associated press is actively tracking Russia’s broader campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe, which encompasses a range of activities from cyberattacks and propaganda to arson and attempted assassinations. Western officials have attributed over 70 distinct attacks to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.The sanctioned military intelligence units are also accused of targeting foreign aid to Kyiv, ports, infrastructure, border crossings, and technology companies.
While acknowledging that sanctions against GRU officers may have limited direct impact, the British foreign ministry stated that the objective is to increase awareness of Russia’s ongoing campaign and to raise the costs for individuals working for its intelligence services, including restricting their travel capabilities.