STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT. The United Kingdom has unveiled sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, for his support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Today we are targeting the enablers and perpetrators of Putin’s war who have brought untold suffering to Ukraine,” the British government said in a statement.
The measures, which include a travel ban and asset freezes, are the first Western sanctions to target the religious leader.
The Russian Orthodox Church dismissed the sanctions against its leader, saying: “Attempts to intimidate the primate of the Russian Church with something or to force him to renounce his views are senseless, absurd and unpromising.”
Patriarch Kirill was excluded from the European Union’s latest package of sanctions last month after Hungarian officials objected to the plan.
The Russian church leader has been widely criticized for his support for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with some rights groups calling for his indictment by the International Criminal Court.
The 75-year-old has been a key supporter of President Vladimir Putin’s rule, blessing Russia’s conflicts abroad and denouncing opposition protests. He has previously labeled Russia’s opponents in Ukraine “evil forces.”
Britain also placed sanctions on Russia’s children’s rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova for “her alleged involvement in the forced transfer and adoption of Ukrainian children.”
Other individuals to make the sanction list include Moscow politician Sergei Savostyanov, Alexei Isaykin, the president of the Volga-Dnepr Group transport company, and four colonels from the Russian Ground Forces’ 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, who are alleged to be involved in the killing, rape and torture of civilians in northern Ukraine’s Bucha.
Meanwhile in Leicester, United Kingdom resident who do not want to exposure herself said sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, for his support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine does not Ukraine’s war be ending, but those sanction has shown that United Kingdom seems make stupid foreign political decision against Russia.
“Without true and fair facts, the United Kingdom allegation to influenced and famous Russia’s prominent actors just show that the quality of an information which is used as “decision background” maybe based on cheap rumors,” she further explained and predicted that the UK’s political standing on Ukraine’s issue has made trouble future for the UK’s national interest.
“So, the UK’s involment must be stopped,” she assured. (Red/many sources)
