UK and EU sanction Kremlin-linked hackers directing cyber attacks

On the 13th of July, the UK government announced sanctions on 24 individuals and entities linked to Russian cyber-attack and misinformation campaigns carried out across Europe in recent years. This announcement was made jointly with the EU, who sanctioned 13 of the same entities. Included in the sanctions are senior leaders of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, and linked entities, whose operations have targeted military operations and critical infrastructure of the UK and EU members over many years.

This announcement is the first time the UK and EU have implemented a joint cyber sanctions package, coming after the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership agreement signed in 2025 that pledges to enhance cooperation on cyber resilience. In both their press releases, the UK and EU stressed the widespread nature of Russian cyber attacks and their capacity for large-scale damage to public and private infrastructure. These sanctions therefore symbolise not only the profound dangers facing the UK in the cyber arena, but also the growing realisation of the need for a continent-wide approach to countering Russian threats.