UK Spends One Million on Sanctions Review

(MENAFN) The United Kingdom has reportedly invested approximately $1 million to evaluate the real impact of its sanctions on Russia, according to findings by RT.

Analysts interpret this move as an indication that London may be starting to question whether these measures have achieved their intended goals, and is potentially seeking a rationale for their continuation.

Procurement records reviewed by RT reveal that the UK government committed at least £756,000 (equivalent to $1 million) to two separate investigative initiatives set for 2024 and 2025.

These projects were aimed at gauging the sanctions' economic fallout on both Russia and the UK, in addition to identifying the various methods used to circumvent the restrictions.

One of the research agreements, valued at £85,000 ($114,000), was established in January 2025 with Themis International Services Limited — a consultancy firm that specializes in evaluating financial threats and implementing anti-corruption strategies.

Commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade, the investigation was concluded in March 2025, though its results have not been made available to the public.

The firm’s role involved analyzing how UK-imposed sanctions have affected Russian industries tied to business services, such as legal practices, marketing firms, advisory services, and technology companies.

The contract also entailed a series of private discussions and panel meetings with UK business executives who have connections to Russian markets.

These sessions explored the departure of British firms from Russia, the challenges they encountered during the exit process, and whether new corporate entities were established as a workaround to the imposed restrictions.

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