UK sanctions additional Russia-linked Rybar staff over Ukraine disinformation activity

LONDON, July 13, 2026 — The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it updated the UK Sanctions List with 10 new Russia-regime designations, all of them individuals connected to Rybar LLC, a media company the British government has already accused of supporting information operations tied to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Those newly listed are Tatiana Petrovna Kosterova, Olga Sergeevna Kuznetsova, Natalia Vitalyevna Chebotaeva, Maksim Vitalyevich Matveev, Evgeniia Aleksandrovna Grebneva, Aleksandr Igorevich Minin, Daria Rosliakova, Aleksandr Klimovich Kan, Valeriia Vladimirovna Zvinchuk and Denis Valeryevich Vulf. The notice says they are now subject to asset freezes, travel bans, trust services sanctions, director disqualification sanctions and internet services sanctions.

British authorities said most of the individuals were designated for roles inside Rybar, including foreign language resources, regional management, video production, design, regional analysis, creative direction and overall direction of the company. Grebneva was cited for administering Rybar-linked Telegram networks, while Minin was designated for association with Rybar and identified as chief of content.

The UK’s statement of reasons repeatedly says the group members were involved in destabilizing Ukraine, or in undermining its territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence, by supporting or promoting Rybar’s activity. In Vulf’s case, the notice described him as a director of Rybar LLC.

The move builds on earlier UK action against Russian foreign information warfare. A government policy paper updated in May said Rybar had been designated in December 2025 as a media company partially resourced by the Russian state that hid those links while running a covert network to promote support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and interfere in democratic processes, including elections in the European Union and Moldova. The same paper said Rybar uses fake investigations and AI-driven content to shape narratives in the Kremlin’s favor.

Under Britain’s Russia sanctions rules, internet services sanctions require social media platforms, internet access providers and app stores to take reasonable steps to stop UK users from accessing content, sites or applications provided by designated persons.