British dockers refused to unload Russian oil from a tanker today in a show of solidarity with Ukraine.
They took action after the German-registered vessel was able to skirt sanctions.
And as Boris Johnson prepared to cut UK supplies of Russian gas, Vladimir Putin said the West’s crippling measures against his country were “akin to a declaration of war”. The tyrant’s foreign ministry warned: “London has made a final choice of open confrontation with Russia.”
Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added: “Russia will not forget Britain’s desire to cooperate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime. The sanctions hysteria in which London plays one of the leading, if not the main, roles leaves us no choice but to take proportionately tough retaliatory measures.”
Putin also warned any move to set a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be seen as “participation in the armed conflict”. He added: “These sanctions are akin to a declaration of war, but thank God it has not come to that.”
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A string of big brands have joined the boycott over Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine. But Britain’s biggest supermarket, Tesco, faced a backlash after deciding not to withdraw Russian-made vodka – despite other major retailers doing so.
McDonald’s also angered customers by failing to break off business links. Coca Cola and PepsiCo have so far remained silent. Tesco says it is donating £1million to the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal in support.
But one Twitter user said: “Won’t be shopping at Tesco again. Hitting Russia hard with sanctions is all we got.”
Sainsbury’s, the Co-op, Aldi and Morrisons have all said they will stop selling Russian Standard vodka while Waitrose owner John Lewis is removing all Russian products from its stores.
Luxury fashion label Prada has suspended retail operations in Russia, as has German sportswear maker Puma.
The tanker of Russian oil that arrived at the Stanlow refinery in Cheshire was able to do so in spite of a ban already in place on Russian ships docking in Britain to unload cargoes of crude and refined oil – because ships flying flags of other nations are not banned. That caused staff to take matters into their own hands, after similar action led to two tankers of liquid gas being diverted from a terminal on the Isle of Grain in Kent.
The Unite union told Stanlow’s owner, India’s Essar Group, that members would “under no circumstances unload any Russian oil regardless of the nationality of the vessel which delivers it”. Unite boss Sharon Graham said: “It’s appalling they were put in this position by the Government dragging its feet.”
The refinery, near Liverpool, is a key source of oil in the north-west. A spokesman said it was “complying with the statutory framework implemented by the Government with regard to Russia-related entities”.
Labour’s Karl Turner, Emma Hardy and Dame Diana Johnson said: “Our efforts to deny Putin resources to conduct his war should not be reliant on individual workforces.”
Although less than 4% of UK gas supplies come from Russia, a Whitehall source told the People: “Ministers are exploring options to end this altogether.”
Cutting off oil imports would deprive Putin of another £3.6billion – but it is feared sanctions could push energy bills to £3,000 a year.
Britain will put further pressure on the Kremlin on Monday with new laws to speed up sanctions on individuals.
In Italy, police reportedly seized a Sardinian villa owned by billionaire Alisher Usmanov, whose sponsorship ties with Everton were cut last week.
