UK Announces New Air Sanctions Against Russia

Footprints are visible in the sky as a plane flies over London as the Union Jack flag flutters in the wind at 10 Downing Street in London, UK on January 29, 2022. REUTERS/May James

LONDON, March 9 – The UK on Wednesday unveiled new aviation sanctions that give it the right to detain any Russian aircraft and ban the export of aviation or space goods to Russia, saying it had already confiscated one aircraft.

Measures to step up action against Russian aircraft mean that any flight or landing in the United Kingdom is a criminal offence. More

The ban applies to any aircraft owned, operated or chartered by any persons associated with Russia or designated individuals or entities, and will include the right to detain any aircraft owned by persons associated with Russia, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Banning Russian-flagged aircraft from entering the UK and making it a criminal offense to fly them will cause even more economic damage to Russia and those close to the Kremlin,” said Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

The Foreign Office said new legislation would be passed on Wednesday to implement the measures, which also include the right to remove from the UK aircraft register any aircraft owned by Russian individuals and entities under sanctions.

Transportation Minister Grant Shapps said one plane has already been held up while further investigations are underway. The Telegraph reported that the private jet was linked to a friend of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

“We know that the aircraft does not belong to a Russian company, but to an aircraft registered in Luxembourg. We’re doing additional reviews before releasing it,” Shapps told LBC radio.

The new sanctions will also prevent the export of goods related to aviation and space, including insurance and reinsurance.

This would mean that coverage on existing policies would be withdrawn and UK insurers and reinsurers would not be able to pay claims on existing policies in those sectors, the statement said.

Reporting by William James and Michael Holden; Edited by Clarence Fernandez and Sri Navaratnam

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