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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Aletha Adu

UK slaps sanctions against Belarus for role in Russian invasion of Ukraine

The UK has slapped sanctions on a number of Belarusian officials to inflict "economic pain on Putin and those closest to him".

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said the Government "will not rest" until Ukraine's sovereignty is restored.

The Foreign Office said the Belarusian military has “supported and enabled the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.

Ms Truss said Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko’s administration “actively aids and abets Russia’s illegal invasion” and should be made to feel the “consequences”.

It comes amid fears Belarus is preparing to send its troops into Ukraine, with some officials claiming they could join forces this week.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (via REUTERS)

Belarus chief of the general staff, also first deputy minister of defence, major general Victor Gulevich is among those sanctioned.

Mr Gulevich was responsible for directing Belarusian armed forces which directly support Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

The other sanctioned individuals are:

  • Major general Andrei Burdyko, Deputy minister of defence for logistics and chief of logistics of the Belarusian armed forces
  • Deputy minister of defence for armament and chief of armament of the Belarusian armed forces
  • Major general Sergei Simonenko
  • Deputy minister of defence, major general Andrey Zhuk.

Ms Truss said: "We are inflicting economic pain on Putin and those closest to him. We will not rest until Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is restored.

"The Lukashenko regime actively aids and abets Russia’s illegal invasion and will be made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin.

"There will be nowhere to hide. Nothing - and no one - is off the table."

Russian President Vladimir Putin (AFP via Getty Images)

State enterprises JSC 558 Aircraft Repair Plant and JSC Integral, a military semi-conductor manufacturer, have also been included in the economic strike, the FCDO said.

JSC 558 provides maintenance and servicing to military aircraft at Baranovichi air base, from which Russian aircraft operated as part of the invasion, according to the department.

It comes almost a week after Boris Johnson confirmed Belarus will receive sanctions as he unveiled the "most severe" economic punishments for Russia.

Belarus sanctions are on top of those already applied on Minsk by the UK since 2020.

More than 100 people and organisations have previously been targeted in response to the fraudulent elections in Belarus and the “litany of abhorrent acts and human rights violations that the Lukashenko regime continues to commit”, the Foreign Office has said.

Russia and Belarus are becoming increasingly isolated, having been banned in a number of cultural and sporting events across the world.

Tennis players from the two nations will be allowed to continue competing under a neutral flag but both countries have been barred from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

FIFA and UEFA have expelled Russian clubs and national sides from all competitions after the International Olympic Committee’s call to implement a total ban on the country as well as Belarus, who have supported the invasion.

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