The UK government has sanctioned 386 members of the Duma – the lower house of the Russian parliament- for their support to recognise the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent entities.
It ratified treaties in February which recognised the independence of the two regions, which are part of Ukrainian sovereign territory.
They also authorised the permanent presence of Russian military there, which the FCDO has said acted as a pretext for Russia’s invasion.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “We’re targeting those complicit in Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war. We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions.
“Together with our allies, we stand firmly beside our Ukrainian friends. We will continue to support Ukraine with humanitarian aid, defensive weapons and diplomatic work to isolate Russia internationally.”
Meanwhile, technology minister Chris Philp has warned president Vladimir Putin will face a “dramatic increased response” from the West if he deploys chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Sadiq Khan applauds judge’s condemnation of Met’s ‘unacceptable’ conduct at Sarah Everard vigil
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has welcomed the High Court’s condemnation of the Met for breaching the rights of the Reclaim These Streets group who cancelled a vigil for Sarah Everard.
Mr Khan said: “The murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met officer damaged the confidence of Londoners in the police. In the wake of such a horrendous crime, the policing of the vigil in her memory eroded trust in the police further.
“I was very clear with the Met at the time, that the scenes we saw at the vigil were unacceptable. I welcome today’s judgment.
“A series of events in the past year have damaged confidence in the police and urgent and wide-reaching action is needed to restore it. I remain committed to doing everything in my power to hold the police to account and working with the Met to deliver on the changes needed.
“We know tens of thousands of dedicated Met officers have gone above and beyond throughout this pandemic – but it is clear today that there are still serious lessons to be learned in how their duties are carried out.”
Ireland sends blood bags and medical masks to Ukraine
Ireland has sent 4,000 blood bags and 50,000 medical masks to Ukraine in a bid to aid the health service amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service 4,000 blood bags were donated by and dispatched to Ukraine on Monday, while 10,000 bio-protection suits, 50,000 medical-grade masks and more than 2,500 litres of disinfectant were sent today.
Government warns military veterans not to go and fight in Ukraine
Veterans minister Leo Docherty wrote to military charities seeking their help in dissuading any ex-servicemen and women from going ahead with plans to travel to the eastern European state.
He said they should instead be encouraged to support charitable and fundraising efforts to provide help to those under assault by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:
No 10 reminds Chelsea fans of Abramovich’s alleged links to Putin
A spokesperson for prime minister Boris Johnson has reminded Chelsea fans of the allegation that Roman Abramovich has supported Putin after they apparently chanted his name.
He said: “We understand the strength of feelings that Chelsea fans will have and the passion for their club, but it’s important to remember that these sanctions are being imposed on those who have provided support to the Putin regime and the brutal assault on Ukraine.”
No 10 declines to say if sanctioned Russian lawmakers have UK assets
Downing Street has refused to comment on whether any of the 386 sanctioned members of the Russian Duma have any assets in Britain.
The prime minister’s spokesperson said: “The measures we put in place will ensure that any assets they do have in the UK will be frozen and they will no longer be able to travel to the UK or do any business here, but I wouldn’t go through the details of individuals.”
Downing St warns of ‘robust’ response to chemical weapons
No 10 have has warned of a “robust” response against Russia if the Moscow deploys chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Asked how the UK responded to chemical attacks before, a spokesman for Boris Johnson said: “You saw after the Salisbury poisoning the UK’s response as well as the response of other nations.
“But I wouldn’t get into hypotheticals, you’ve seen what the prime minister said about the use of chemical weapons and the fact we’re calling for Russia not to use them.
“The international community has always responded robustly following the use of chemical weapons, I’m not going to get into hypotheticals and try and look into the future, but you’ve seen what the prime minister’s said and we continue to call for Russia not to use chemical weapons.”
Asked about technology minister Chris Philp’s warning of an “increased response” in the event of a chemical attack, the spokesman said: “You heard what the minister said this morning, I think that mirrors what I’ve just said, the international community has always responded robustly.”
UK issues 1,305 visas to Ukrainian refugees
As of Thursday morning, 1,305 visas for Ukrainian refugees had been issued, home office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said.
“Those figures are going up rapidly and that is a good thing,” she told the House of Lords.
Watch: Keir Starmer urges government to go ‘further and faster’ with Russian sanctions
Ukrainian refugees: How can I take part in the new sponsorship scheme?
Britons will soon be asked to open their homes to Ukrainians fleeing their country, as part of a new “sponsored” humanitarian route to allow more refugees to travel to the UK.
The route will give Ukrainians without family links to the UK the opportunity come to the country in order to escape the war against Russia.
It comes after the government faced criticism for its response to the refugee crisis. Michael Gove, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, is expected to set out details of the new route on Monday.
Here is Kate Ng with everything we know about how the scheme will work and how you can get involved:
Britain to offer 100,000 Ukranian refugee children online lessons
Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has announced that 100,000 refugee pupils will be offered online lessons as they transition to “life and safety” in the UK.
Lessons will also be available translated into Ukrainian or Russian, he added, as some refugee pupils will speak Russian as a first language.
Addressing the Association of School and College Leaders’ annual conference in Birmingham on Friday, he said: “We will continue to support Ukrainians in any way we can.
“I know schools are doing what they can to support their students make sense of what they are seeing.”
“And we are working with schools to ensure that the tens of thousands of Ukrainian children we will welcome to our shores will have a place in our education system.
“To support schools’ efforts, I’m delighted to announce that Oak National Academy has today rolled out an auto-translate function across all 10,000 of its online lessons.
“This will allow Ukrainian children arriving in the UK to access education in their native language as they transition into life and safety in the UK.”
