Key Takeaways
- The UK designated 19 new Russia sanctions targets on 6 August 2026 — six banks, six shadow-fleet tankers, four rare-metal importers, one individual, one ship management firm, and one engineering company.
- Any UK person dealing with funds or economic resources belonging to a designated person commits a criminal offence. Screen your counterparties, vessels, and supply chains now.
- The six newly designated banks mean all transactions involving these institutions are prohibited — check your payment chains.
- The six shadow-fleet vessels are now subject to port access bans and asset freezes — freight forwarders and customs brokers must verify IMO numbers against the consolidated list.
- HMRC has 22 active criminal investigations into sanctions breaches and is seeking new powers to publish the names of companies that settle.
What Happened: The 6 August 2026 Package
On 6 August 2026, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced his first major Russia sanctions package, designating 19 new targets under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The package is the latest in a sustained campaign — the UK has now sanctioned over 3,400 individuals, entities, and ships under the Russia regime, with more than 500 of those added in 2026 alone. For the broader customs-enforcement context around restricted goods and declarations, see our UK customs powers and enforcement guide.
The new designations fall into four categories, each with direct implications for UK importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and customs intermediaries.
Six Russian Banks
The following banks are now subject to asset freezes and a prohibition on making funds or economic resources available to them:
- LLC OZON BANK
- JSC REALIST BANK
- JSC TELEPORT BANK
- PJSC BANK STAVR
- PJSC COMMERCIAL BANK “CENTER-INVEST”
- STATE SPECIALISED RUSSIAN EXPORT-IMPORT BANK (JSC)
For UK operators, the practical effect is immediate: any payment involving these institutions — whether as originating bank, intermediary, or beneficiary — is prohibited. Importers paying Russian suppliers, freight forwarders settling port charges through Russian intermediaries, and customs brokers handling duty payments routed through Russian banks must all verify that none of these six institutions appear in the transaction chain.
Six Shadow-Fleet Tankers
Six vessels have been specified under Regulation 57F, meaning they are subject to port access bans, asset freezes, and a prohibition on the provision of maritime services:
| Vessel Name | IMO Number |
|---|---|
| ASTERAS | 9402263 |
| PERSEAS | 9326811 |
| TORVIAN | 9470131 |
| VISUND | 9378864 |
| ZENTURO | 9346885 |
| ARCTIC EXPRESS | 9333591 |
The ARCTIC EXPRESS is an LNG carrier; the other five are oil tankers. All six are accused of forming part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — vessels that obscure their ownership and movements to evade Western oil price caps and sanctions.
For freight forwarders and shipping agents, the operational requirement is straightforward: check the IMO number of every vessel you book cargo onto against the consolidated UK Sanctions List before accepting a booking or issuing a bill of lading. A vessel that appears on the list cannot call at UK ports, cannot be serviced by UK insurers or P&I clubs, and cannot receive bunkers, provisions, or crew changes from UK-based suppliers.
Four Rare-Metal Importers
Four Russian companies importing tantalum and niobium — rare metals critical for producing military electronics, capacitors, and superalloys used on the battlefield — have been designated:
- LLC METALLKOMPLEKT
- LLC NIKOM
- LLC TECHNOLUX
- LLC PROMSIZ
UK importers of tantalum, niobium, or products containing these metals (common in electronics, aerospace components, and medical devices) must verify that their supply chains do not trace back to any of these four entities. The designation also catches intermediaries — a UK company buying tantalum capacitors from a German distributor that sourced raw material from a designated Russian entity would still be in breach. Electronics importers should also reconcile the sanctions check with commodity-code classification because the relevant controls often hinge on product description, material content and end use.
Individual and Other Entities
- Alexander Aleksandrovich ZHDANOV — an individual now subject to an asset freeze.
- FRION SHIP MANAGEMENT LLP — an India-based ship management company accused of supporting shadow-fleet operations.
- NORTHERN ENGINEERING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY — a Russian engineering firm linked to the military supply chain.
What UK Operators Must Do Now
The compliance steps are not theoretical. HMRC, Border Force, and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) are actively enforcing the Russia sanctions regime. Here is the practical checklist:
1. Re-screen Your Counterparty Database
Run your full customer, supplier, and intermediary database against the updated UK Sanctions List. The six newly designated banks mean that even if your direct counterparty is not sanctioned, a transaction routed through one of these banks is prohibited. Most sanctions screening software updates within 24 hours of a new designation — confirm yours has ingested the 6 August changes.
2. Check Vessel IMO Numbers
If you are a freight forwarder, shipping agent, or importer with cargo currently at sea, verify the IMO number of the carrying vessel against the consolidated list. The six newly designated tankers and the LNG carrier are now prohibited from entering UK ports. If your cargo is on a designated vessel, contact your legal adviser immediately — you may need to apply for a licence from OFSI to handle the situation lawfully.
3. Audit Tantalum and Niobium Supply Chains
Importers of electronics, aerospace components, medical devices, and industrial machinery should trace their tantalum and niobium supply chains. Ask your suppliers for a written confirmation that raw materials do not originate from the four designated Russian companies. Document the response — HMRC expects importers to demonstrate reasonable due diligence. Where goods could also be dual-use, use the checks in our UK dual-use goods export controls guide before accepting a shipment or forwarding instruction.
4. Update Your Internal Sanctions Policy
If your compliance manual references the UK Sanctions List, ensure it reflects the 6 August additions. The FCDO publishes a consolidated list in XML and CSV formats at gov.uk. Download the latest version and circulate it to your compliance, finance, and operations teams.
5. Report Any Matches
If you discover that you hold funds or economic resources belonging to a designated person, you must report it to OFSI without delay. Failure to report is itself a criminal offence. The reporting form is available at gov.uk/report-sanctions-breach.
The Wider Enforcement Picture
The 6 August package lands against a backdrop of intensifying UK sanctions enforcement. On 29 July 2026, HMRC published a technical note on trade sanctions enforcement for the 2025–2026 period, revealing:
- 22 criminal investigations opened, with three positive charging decisions across two cases now pending trial.
- 58 seizures of sanctioned goods by HMRC and Border Force.
- One compound settlement of £1,160,725.67 for a violation of the UK’s Russia trade sanctions regime.
- 18 HMRC warning letters issued following voluntary disclosures.
Critically, HMRC has also signalled that in 2026–2027 it will seek new legal powers to publish the names of companies that agree to a compound settlement for strategic export controls and sanctions offences. Currently, compound settlements are confidential. If HMRC secures these powers, companies that breach sanctions will face not only financial penalties but public naming — a significant reputational risk for freight forwarders, customs brokers, and importers.
The direction of travel is clear: the UK is moving from designating targets to actively prosecuting breaches. The 6 August package is the latest wave; operators who treat sanctions screening as a box-ticking exercise are taking a growing risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a vessel is sanctioned?
Search the consolidated UK Sanctions List at gov.uk using the vessel’s IMO number. The list is available in XML, CSV, and HTML formats. Most commercial sanctions screening platforms also ingest the list automatically — confirm with your provider that the 6 August update has been applied.
What happens if my cargo is already on a designated vessel?
Contact OFSI immediately. You may need to apply for a specific licence to handle the situation. Do not attempt to pay freight charges, port fees, or other costs to a designated entity without a licence — doing so is a criminal offence.
Are the new bank designations retrospective?
No. The asset freeze applies from the date of designation (6 August 2026). However, any funds or economic resources you hold that belong to a designated bank must be frozen and reported to OFSI, even if they were received before the designation date.
Do these sanctions affect goods already in transit from Russia?
If the goods themselves are not subject to trade sanctions and the supplier is not a designated person, the goods can still be imported. However, you must ensure that no payment is routed through any of the six newly designated banks and that the carrying vessel is not on the sanctions list.
Where can I find the full list of designated persons?
The UK Sanctions List is maintained at gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list. The FCDO also publishes sanctions notices for each new designation, which include the specific regulatory basis and the scope of the restrictions.