May 06, (THEWILL) — The United Kingdom has imposed fresh sanctions on Russian-linked networks accused of recruiting vulnerable foreign migrants, including Nigerians, to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The sanctions target 35 individuals and organisations involved in human trafficking, drone production, and the supply of military components to Russia’s war machine.
According to the UK government, some recruiters deceived migrants with promises of jobs and better opportunities before sending them to the battlefield or placing them in Russian weapons factories under harsh conditions.
Among those sanctioned is Polina Alexandrovna Azarnykh, accused of facilitating the movement of recruits from countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Yemen and the Ivory Coast into Russia and onward to the war front in Ukraine.
British authorities said many of those recruited received little or no military training before deployment.
The UK also sanctioned individuals and companies in countries such as China and Thailand for allegedly supplying drone components and technical support used by Russia in attacks on Ukraine.
British officials said Russia’s growing use of drones has intensified attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. According to the UK, Russia launched an average of more than 200 drones daily into Ukraine in March 2026, marking the highest monthly figure since the war began.
UK Sanctions Minister, Stephen Doughty, described the exploitation of migrants as “barbaric”, accusing Russia of using vulnerable people as “cannon fodder” to sustain its military campaign.
He said the sanctions were aimed at disrupting both Russia’s drone manufacturing networks and the trafficking systems feeding manpower into the war.
In Abuja, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Gill Lever, warned Nigerians against falling for recruitment schemes linked to the conflict.
She said some Nigerians had already lost their lives after being drawn into the arrangements.
Lever noted that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier advised citizens to avoid suspicious foreign recruitment programmes connected to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The UK said the measures were introduced under its Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons sanctions regime, designed to target human trafficking networks and organised migration crimes worldwide.
British authorities insisted the latest action demonstrates continued pressure on the Kremlin while supporting Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
