French media: UK takes a hard line, sanctions Russian military intelligence "spies"

According to the French department of this station, the UK has taken a firm stance against Russia and announced on Friday (July 18) sanctions against several Russian military intelligence personnel, accusing them of carrying out cyber malicious activities on behalf of the Kremlin, including cyber intrusions, cyber attacks, and targeted strikes.

According to Sidonie Gouache, a correspondent in London for this station's French department, this is a "shadow war" being fought behind the scenes, but its consequences are not virtual. The UK has identified 18 Russian spies, who belong to three different units of the Russian military intelligence department, accused of planning large-scale cyber attacks against the UK and other regions, some of which have been ongoing for years.

The 26165 unit allegedly conducted data reconnaissance before Russia's attack on Mariupol, Ukraine in 2022. The UK Foreign Office further accused that "including the attack that destroyed the theater, which resulted in hundreds of civilians (including children) being killed." A few years ago, the same Russian intelligence agencies were even involved in the Novichok poisoning incident targeting former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in 2018.

"Disrupting European stability, weakening Ukraine's sovereignty"

In a statement, the UK Foreign Office stated that the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) "regularly conducts online operations aimed at creating chaos, division, and disorder in Ukraine and around the world, and causing destructive consequences in the real world." In the same statement, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the GRU spies' actions were intended to "disrupt European stability, weaken Ukraine's sovereignty, and threaten the safety of British citizens."

The UK Foreign Office emphasized that the UK government is working to "counter hybrid threats both domestically and abroad, and cooperate with an international coalition including 32 NATO allies, the EU and its member states, as well as our FBI partners."

Earlier this month, three men were convicted of setting fire to a London company linked to Ukraine, with police stating that the attack was carried out on the orders of the Wagner mercenary group.

Moscow denied all related accusations, calling them false statements motivated by politics, and insisted that Russia poses no threat to the UK.

It is worth noting that the EU and NATO also issued statements on the same day, condemning Russia for so-called "destabilizing hybrid activities," emphasizing that these activities endanger regional security and democratic order.

The UK's sanction measures coincide with the EU's announcement of new round of sanctions against Russia on the same day.

The EU's new sanctions include lowering the price cap on Russian oil, banning transactions with the "Nord Stream" gas pipeline, and further cracking down on the "shadow fleet" transportation network.

Source: rfi

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838063734095872/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.