UK Announces Largest Sanctions on Russian Oil Exports

On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom announced its largest sanctions package to date, targeting key elements of Russia's oil export infrastructure in an effort to curb revenues funding the ongoing war. The measures, unveiled on February 24, 2026, focus on PJSC Transneft, the state-controlled pipeline operator responsible for transporting more than 80 percent of Russia's crude exports, as well as 48 tankers and 175 companies linked to the 2Rivers network, a shadowy fleet used to evade international restrictions.

The package encompasses nearly 300 new actions, bringing the total number of UK-designated entities related to Russia to over 3,000, including banks and media outlets accused of spreading misinformation. It builds on previous Western efforts to isolate Moscow's energy sector, which has generated billions despite mounting penalties. "The UK has today taken decisive action to disrupt the critical financing, military equipment and revenue streams that sustain Russia's aggression," Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement, calling it the largest set of measures since the invasion's early months.