The United Kingdom has introduced a fresh wave of trade sanctions against Russia, including a ban on the export of video game controllers that could be adapted for military use, following a deadly Russian missile strike on Kyiv.
The latest sanctions package, announced on Thursday, includes 150 new measures aimed at hampering Russia’s ability to wage war in Ukraine. Among them is a total ban on the export of gaming consoles and controllers, which British officials say have been repurposed to operate drones on the battlefield.
“Gaming consoles will no longer be repurposed to kill in Ukraine,” said UK sanctions minister Stephen Doughty. The move comes a day after Ukrainian officials met with British counterparts in London to discuss efforts toward peace.
While those talks were ongoing, a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian capital killed nine people and injured dozens more.
The strike drew sharp condemnation from Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who posted on social media, “While Ukrainian ministers were in London working towards peace, Putin’s Russia was attacking the Ukrainian people.”
The sanctions, which took effect on Thursday, also cover software and technology exports used in Russia’s defence and energy sectors. This includes software designed to aid in the discovery of new oil and gas reserves.
“Today’s action clamps down on Russia’s sneaky trading and deprives Putin of the goods he desperately needs to fight his barbaric war,” Doughty added.
In addition to gaming equipment and software, the sanctions also target exports of chemicals, electronic components, industrial machinery, and metals. Many of these items—such as electronic circuits and other dual-use components—have been identified as materials that can be integrated into weapons systems.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has imposed extensive sanctions on Russian officials, companies, and sectors linked to President Vladimir Putin’s government. These measures include bans on Russian oil exports and price caps on its international crude sales.
As of January 2025, a total of 1,733 individuals and 382 organisations were subject to UK sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
