UK Sanctions 24 Russian-Linked Targets Over Cyberattacks and Election Interference

The United Kingdom on Monday imposed sanctions on 24 individuals and entities linked to Russia over alleged cyberattacks, election interference, and the spread of anti-Ukraine disinformation across Europe. The move marks the first coordinated cyber sanctions initiative between the UK and European Union member states, highlighting closer cooperation against Russian cyber threats.

The sanctions target Russian state actors, cybercriminal organizations, and individuals accused of supporting Moscow’s intelligence operations. Among those designated are senior GRU officials Vyacheslav Stafeyev, Ivan Senin, and Ivan Kasyanenko, who the UK said directed cyber and hybrid warfare activities on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence agency.

British authorities also accused GRU Unit 29155 of collaborating with cybercrime groups, including the company IMPULS, to recruit hackers and cybersecurity specialists from Russian universities and military academies for offensive cyber operations.

In a joint attribution, the UK and EU blamed Russia’s FSB Centre 16 for a failed cyberattack on Poland’s energy grid. Officials said the attack, if successful, could have disrupted electricity supplies for as many as 500,000 residents during the winter.

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the sanctions are aimed at dismantling cybercriminal networks that support Russia’s aggression, adding that the joint UK-EU action sends a clear signal that Moscow cannot shield itself by operating through proxy groups.

The sanctions also target individuals connected to Lumma Stealer, a malware platform used to steal sensitive information from infected devices. British authorities said stolen credentials obtained through the malware have been exploited by Russia for cyber espionage campaigns worldwide. The UK’s National Crime Agency reported that at least 2,100 victims in Britain were affected by Lumma Stealer over the past six months.

Additionally, the UK sanctioned 10 people associated with Rybar LLC, a Russian media organization accused of receiving state support to spread false narratives about Ukraine and interfere in elections across Europe, including in Moldova and Armenia.

The latest measures bring the UK’s total number of sanctions related to Russia’s war effort to more than 3,400 individuals and entities.