The United Kingdom has exposed a cyber campaign orchestrated by Russian military intelligence (GRU) targeting Western logistics and technology organizations involved in delivering foreign assistance to Ukraine, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) announced on May 21.
Petro Pochynok, 34, charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, is expected to appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on May 21.
The measures, announced in coordination with the EU's 17th sanctions package, target "entities supporting Russia’s military machine, energy exports and information war, as well as financial institutions" supporting the Russian war effort.
Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, European leaders also discussed the potential for additional sanctions should Russia fail to engage constructively in ceasefire negotiations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the next set of EU sanctions will target Nord Stream, more "shadow fleet" listings, a lower oil price cap, and new measures targeting Russian and third-country banks aiding the war effort, according to the Kyiv Independent reporter.
Presidential Office Chief Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with French, German, U.K., and the U.S. officials in Istanbul on May 16, Suspilne reported, citing sources in the Ukrainian delegation.
Ukrainian citizen, Roman Lavrynovych, was charged on May 15 following a series of arson attacks on property linked to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"What's happened today is further evidence that it's Putin who is dragging his feet," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
Alongside Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has also ramped up its hybrid attacks across Europe. In 2024 alone, Russia could be behind around 100 "suspicious incidents" in Europe, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky claimed. Last month, the Dutch intelligence said that Moscow keeps stepping up its attacks
Editor's Note: This article contains graphic descriptions. Soldiers interviewed for this article are identified by their callsigns only due to security reasons. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, shocking the world, thousands of foreigners flocked to defend Ukraine – many with little to no connection with the country. More
"We agreed to pursue ambitious measures to reduce Russia's ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the Oil Price Cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy."
The convictions mark a significant development in Britain's efforts to counter Russian intelligence operations amid heightened tensions stemming from Moscow's war against Ukraine and repeated Kremlin threats toward Kyiv's allies.
The sanctions appear to be in response to Russia's rejection of a 30-day ceasefire that the U.K., alongside Ukraine, France, Germany, and Poland, demanded during a visit to Kyiv on May 10.
Tougher sanctions "should be applied to (Russia's) banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil, and the shadow fleet," the leaders of Ukraine, the U.K., France, Germany, and Poland said in a joint statement.
"We agreed that a full and unconditional ceasefire must begin on Monday, May 12, for at least 30 days. We jointly demand this from Russia, and we know we are supported in this by the United States," Zelensky said.
The visit marks Merz’s first trip to Ukraine, and the first time all four leaders have travelled there together.
"According to the participants of the performances, their goal is to remind the civilized world of the barbaric actions of Moscow, which for many years and decades has systematically violated international law," a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will arrive in Kyiv early on May 10.
The sanctioned oil tankers have transported over $24 billion in cargo since 2024, according to Downing Street. The U.K. has now sanctioned more shadow fleet vessels than any other country.
Garrett, 42, from the Isle of Man, was widely known for his high-risk volunteer work removing mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Russian forces.
The classified "homeland defense plan" outlines how the government would respond in the immediate aftermath of a strike on British territory by a hostile foreign nation.
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on May 2. The two officials reaffirmed a shared desire to end Russia's war against Ukraine, Lammy said.
Donald Trump was told Putin was "disrespecting him by consistently breaking the ceasefire he claimed to be implementing," one source told Politico.
European nations would struggle to deploy even 25,000 troops to Ukraine as part of a proposed multinational “deterrence” force, far short of the 64,000-strong target suggested by U.K. defense officials, the Times reported on April 30 citing undisclosed European defense sources.
The diplomatic meetings come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met privately with U.S. President Donald Trump at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican earlier on April 26.
"It’s got to be a ceasefire that is on terms that all parties can accept, including Ukraine," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
Instead of placing troops near the front lines, the U.K. and France now reportedly aim to send military trainers to western Ukraine, fulfilling a commitment to deploy personnel without engaging in direct defense roles.
"Today’s measures will also cut Russia's war machine off from innovative British tech, world-leading software, and close loopholes exploited by (President Vladimir) Putin's cronies," the U.K. Foreign Ministry said.
The meeting was to be held at a ministerial level, but was downgraded after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his participation.
"We are grateful to the UK for its leadership and support. We will discuss ways to strengthen Ukraine and guarantee long-term peace and security," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
The meeting will take place at a lower level than planned, as top U.S. and European diplomats are skipping the event amid reported disagreements on key points of the U.S. peace plan.
Chief diplomats of the U.K., France, and Germany have suspended their plans to attend the talks in London on how to end Russia's war against Ukraine, Sky News reported on April 23.
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