Spanish
The UK government announced on Tuesday the adoption of sanctions against several Russian media outlets and Chinese technology companies, in response to what it considers prolonged disinformation operations and cyberattacks committed against the UK and its international allies.
The decision comes in a global scenario marked by the proliferation of hybrid threats that seek to interfere with democratic systems, weaken critical infrastructures, and manipulate public opinion through falsified digital material.
The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, reported that the sanctions package covers the microblogging channel Rybar, the Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad — considered by intelligence services as a front for the Russian military agency GRU — and the Center for Geopolitical Expertise, headed by the Russian writer Aleksandr Dugin.
Similarly, two China-based companies were included on the list, accused of deploying massive and selective cyberattacks against British electronic infrastructures and those of allied states.
The measures were outlined in a speech delivered at the British Foreign Office headquarters in London. During her intervention, Cooper emphasized that the United Kingdom and its partners are subject to growing threats, including sabotage and digital campaigns coordinated through artificial intelligence and manipulated videos. These actions, according to the official, seek to undermine international support for Ukrainian resistance and erode trust in democratic institutions and political operators in Europe and North America.
British authorities warn that among the identified practices are the use of fake websites and the publication of fraudulent political ads, as occurred during the recent electoral process in Moldova, as well as the proliferation of altered materials about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, which circulated on social platforms as part of a sustained effort to weaken support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.
The government maintains that this type of campaign can cause lasting negative effects on the affected societies, increasing polarization and bewilderment in the citizenry.
The new sanctions take place within the framework of the centenary of the Locarno Treaties, agreements that laid the foundations for peace in Europe after the First World War. In allusion to this anniversary, Secretary Cooper warned of the importance of intensifying international cooperation to preserve the integrity of democratic systems and protect sensitive infrastructures from possible sabotage, digital manipulation, and other hybrid threats.
According to the British government, the reaction to modern risks requires regular coordination between European and North American allies. On the political agenda is the strengthening of the legal framework and the design of new initiatives aimed at safeguarding both national infrastructure and the legitimate flow of public information.
Authorities insist that responding in advance to any external aggression is fundamental to the political stability of the region.
In recent statements, Cooper emphasized that disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks "must be called by their name: Russian information warfare."
According to the chancellery, the United Kingdom's response is based on the principle of active defense and constant adaptation to a global environment with actors who resort to hybrid methods to weaken governance, manipulate social processes, and undermine state security.
Thus, the package of measures seeks to prevent the misuse of digital technologies and to delve into international response mechanisms, in a context marked by uncertainty about the cohesion of traditional alliances and the need to strengthen resilience against attacks by foreign state actors.
