UK sanctions 35 over Russia drone supply chains, migrant trafficking networks

LONDON, May 5, 2026 — The United Kingdom announced a new round of sanctions targeting 35 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, combining measures against drone procurement networks with action against traffickers accused of deceiving vulnerable migrants and forcing them into frontline combat or weapons production.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the package targets those supporting Russia’s domestic drone manufacturing capability, including suppliers in third countries such as Thailand and China, as well as networks that recruited foreign nationals under false promises of jobs, student visas or other opportunities. The government said some recruits were later sent to fight in Ukraine, while others were put to work in Russian weapons factories.

The sanctions notice enclosed with the announcement shows 17 additions under the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons sanctions regime, including 12 individuals and five entities. Those listed include Russian, Indian, Bangladeshi and Cuban-linked actors accused of trafficking in persons or of facilitating the instrumentalisation of migration to destabilise Ukraine, Finland and Poland. Sanctions imposed include asset freezes, travel bans for individuals and director disqualification sanctions.

Among those named by the UK was Polina Alexandrovna Azarnykh, who the government said facilitated the movement of people from countries including Egypt, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Morocco, Syria and Yemen through Russia to Ukraine, where they were deployed with minimal training and under dire conditions. The notice also names recruitment companies in Bangladesh and India accused of luring nationals to Russia before coercing them to fight on the front line.

The FCDO said the measures are intended to disrupt Russia’s military supply chains, expose trafficking networks and raise pressure on the Kremlin. This is the first use of the UK Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons sanctions regime to address human trafficking and the instrumentalisation of migration to destabilise other countries.