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Economic Sanctions
UK Sanctions
This section includes the UK Sanctions List, published by the UK Government which provides details of those designated under regulations made under the Sanctions Act.
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OFSI unveils its Strategy for 2026-2029 outlining a risk-based, intelligence-led approach to strengthen UK sanctions through improved compliance, streamlined licensing, and targeted enforcement
The strategy centres on three core outcomes: improving understanding of sanctions-evasion risks through data and intelligence, delivering higher-quality licensing, compliance support and enforcement, and strengthening partnerships across government, industry and international allies. It introduces a new operating model built around four pillars—Promote, Enable, Respond and Change—aimed at clarifying expectations…
OTSI announces it will assume responsibility for licensing sanctioned goods and associated ancillary services for exports to sanctioned destinations, effective from 27 April 2026
This expands OTSI’s current remit, which covers licensing for sanctioned standalone services. Licensing of goods and ancillary services subject to export controls only, or to both strategic export controls and sanctions, will continue to be managed by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU). The application process via the Department for Business and Trade’s SPIRE service remains unchanged. OTSI will process applications for sanctioned goods and ancillary services via SPIRE from 27 April 2026 onwards, while those involving goods subject to both sanctions…
UK DBT updates the AUKUS Open General Export Licence to strengthen compliance and streamline secure defence and dual-use technology sharing between the UK, US, and Australia
The notice highlights refinements to licence conditions, scope, and compliance requirements, aimed at ensuring the licence remains aligned with evolving export control policy while maintaining streamlined collaboration under the AUKUS partnership. It also reinforces that exporters must review updated licence terms, maintain robust internal compliance processes, and ensure accurate reporting and record-keeping when using OGELs for eligible transfers.
UK publishes its Strategic Approach to Sanctions Enforcement, a cross-government framework to drive compliance, clarify penalties, and strengthen sanctions as a national security and foreign policy tool
The framework brings together authorities including HM Treasury, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, HMRC, the National Crime Agency and specialist units such as OFSI to deliver a coordinated, intelligence-led enforcement model targeting sanctions evasion and non-compliance. It emphasises robust and proportionate enforcement through civil and criminal tools, enhanced data-sharing, clearer processes and stronger engagement with industry to improve compliance and ensure sanctions effectively support the UK’s foreign-policy and national-security objectives…
UK Govt announces its largest sanctions package on Russia, with nearly 300 measures targeting oil revenues, banks, and shadow fleet networks to curb funding for Moscow’s war in Ukraine
The UK Government announced nearly 300 new sanctions against Russia on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting key oil revenues, military supply chains, banks, LNG operators, and 175 companies linked to the ‘2Rivers’ shadow oil network, as well as 48 tankers and the pipeline giant PJSC Transneft, in a bid to further weaken the Kremlin’s war economy and limit its ability to finance the conflict…
UK Sanctions List last updated
OFSI launches call for evidence on how UK sanctions regulations on ownership and control are applied in practice aiming to ensure the regime is clear, effective, and workable – deadline 13 Apr 2026
The call for evidence invites firms and stakeholders to provide practical insights on how the ownership and control test is applied, including challenges in assessing “control”, the prevalence of hypothetical control scenarios and the impact on compliance costs, legal risk and business decisions. It aims to inform potential reforms to ensure the test remains effective in preventing sanctions circumvention while improving clarity, consistency and proportionality in how entities owned or controlled by designated persons are identified and treated…
UK Govt rolls out to a single UK Sanctions List from 28 Jan 2026, replacing the dual-list system with unique IDs, expanded formats, and an improved search tool to simplify compliance and monitoring
The UK Sanctions list will replace the separate OFSI Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets as the sole authoritative source of UK sanctions designations. This change aims to remove duplication, clarify screening, retire the legacy “OFSI Group ID” for new designations (retaining historic identifiers where needed), and requires businesses and screening systems to switch to the UKSL and update internal processes accordingly…
UK imposes landmark counter-terrorism sanctions on a financier and key Hamas-linked organisation, freezing assets and disrupting funding flows to protect national security
The action designates Mohammed Abu Shamala and the Lebanon-based al-Shahid Social Association under the UK’s counter-terrorism sanctions regime, freezing their assets and prohibiting UK persons from providing funds, economic resources or financial services to them. It marks the first time the UK has used its autonomous terrorism sanctions powers to target entities operating outside conflict zones, signalling a strengthened effort to cut off global financial support networks linked to Hamas…
UK imposes sanctions on a Russian intelligence agency linked to the Skripal poisonings, freezing its assets and prohibiting UK dealings to hold Russia accountable for state-sponsored chemical attacks
UK announces sanctions against the GRU as Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report finds Putin personally ordered their activity in Salisbury in 2018. The GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, is now sanctioned in its entirety by the UK. GRU agents carry out Putin’s bidding, seeking to destabilise Ukraine and attempting to sow chaos and disorder across Europe. The action comes as the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry publishes its final report into the tragic circumstances surrounding Dawn Sturgess’s death in Salisbury in 2018…
OTSI publishes its one-year update report, highlighting 146 breach assessments, 60 licence applications, enhanced reporting, whistleblower protections, and trade sanctions support for businesses
During the reporting period, OTSI received 60 licence applications, 12 of which were granted in full or partially, and 3 of which were refused. OTSI also received 146 reports or referrals of potential breaches of trade sanctions, although no civil monetary penalties have been imposed by OTSI to date. OTSI notes that its key priorities going forward including expanding its licensing remit and being more proactive around enforcement…
FCDO and OFSI will host a public webinar on 17 Dec 2025 at 11am GMT to discuss the transition from the UK Consolidated List to a single list for UK sanctions designations, coming into effect on 28 Jan 2026
This session offers a chance to understand the improvements being introduced and learn the steps you can take to prepare for the change. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, where they will explain the upcoming transition from the UK Consolidated List to a single UK sanctions list, effective 28 January 2026…