Russian Aircraft Faces Tightened Restrictions by UK Gov't

The government has tightened its restrictions against Russian aircraft, making it a criminal offence to fly them in UK airspace.

According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the new capabilities mean that Russian aircraft can be held if they approach UK airspace (FCDO).

"Banning Russian flagged planes from the UK and making it a criminal offence to fly them will inflict more economic pain on Russia and those close to the Kremlin," said Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

"We will continue to support Ukraine diplomatically, economically and defensively in the face of Putin’s illegal invasion, and work to isolate Russia on the international stage."

Any aircraft owned, operated, or chartered by anyone related to Russia, or designated inpiduals or businesses, will be subject to the prohibition, which will include the ability to detain any aircraft owned by people connected to Russia.

The new powers will also allow the government to remove planes from the UK aviation register that belong to identified Russian people and organisations.

According to the FCDO, additional trade measures have been implemented to prevent UK exports of aviation and space-related equipment and technology to Russia, as well as related services such as insurance and reinsurance.

Current policies will lose coverage, and UK insurers and reinsurers will be unable to pay claims relating to existing policies in certain areas.

The measures, according to the government, will increase economic pressure on Russia while also ensuring that the UK complies with sanctions imposed by its partners.

"Putin must fail," said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

"We were one of the first countries to ban Russian aircraft and today we are going even further by making it a criminal offence for Russian aircraft to operate in UK airspace.

"We will always work to deny Putin and his cronies the right to continue as normal while innocent Ukrainians suffer."

For its invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom has placed a growing number of sanctions on Russia.

The UK will phase out the import of Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022, according to Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

"This transition will give the market, businesses and supply chains more than enough time to replace Russian imports - which make up 8% of UK demand," he said on Twitter.

Joe Biden announced a similar plan for the US to sanction all oil, oil products, and gas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the moves, saying they sent "a powerful signal to the whole world".

He added: "Either Russia will respect international law and not wage wars, or it will have no money."