UK sanctions Russian troops over use of chemical weapons in Ukraine – World

LONDON: Britain on Tuesday imposed sanctions on Russian forces it said were involved in the use of chemical weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine, accusing Moscow of “cruel and inhumane tactics”.

Among those sanctioned were the Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces of the Russian Federation and its leader Igor Kirillov, the government said in a statement.

“The United Kingdom will not stand idly by while (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his mafia state flout international law, including the Chemical Weapons Convention,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement.

Ukraine says air defense units are working to repel Russian airstrike on Kiev

Russian state news agency TASS quoted Moscow’s embassy in London as saying accusations that Russia had used chemical weapons were unfounded.

The new sanctions come a week after the government sanctioned 16 members of Russian cybercrime gang Evil Corp, a group it said was ordered by Russia to carry out operations against NATO allies.