Britain unleashes major sanctions package on Russia in bid to 'strike at heart of Putin's war machine'

More than 20 individuals also face restrictions for benefiting from the invasion, on grounds including supporting the supply of kit to the military and links to mercenary groups.

One of those sanctioned is Salisbury poisoning suspect Denis Sergeev.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "Today’s measures will continue to push back on the Kremlin’s corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia’s attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin’s war machine. And smashing the illicit international networks that Russia has worked so hard to forge.

"Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would only take a few. He will fail and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom.

"Today’s sanctions further build on the UK’s mission to combat Russian malign activity globally.

"Over the last month the UK has directly targeted Russia’s illicit shadow fleet, condemned the abhorrent use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, cracked down on malicious Russian cyber gangs and sanctioned the Kremlin’s mouthpieces who recklessly spread Putin’s lies across the world."

This announcement comes ahead of the European Political Community Summit in Budapest today, where Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will discuss efforts to combat Russian activity across Europe and reaffirm the UK’s support for Ukraine.

It comes after Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris raises questions over future US support, which has been key to Ukraine's survival against a much larger and better-equipped enemy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was among world leaders congratulating Trump on his election victory despite the President-elect's criticism of Biden's assistance for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Trump claimed he could end the war in 24 hours but has not offered a detailed plan.

Residents of Kyiv, which comes under regular drone and missile attacks from Russian forces and faces a winter of power shortages, were eager to hear how Trump would stop the war.

Oleksii Iarokha, 41, said: "I guess we are all waiting for just the only thing — just to stop the war, and as Trump promised to stop the war in just one day, we are all waiting for it...It could be today, tomorrow, we can wait till Friday.

"You are the President, please do it, Mr Trump."

This latest package announced by the Foreign Office also targets three private mercenary groups with links to the Kremlin, including Africa Corps, and 11 individuals associated with Russian proxies.

The Foreign Office says these targets have direct links to the Kremlin, have threatened peace and security in Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic, and committed widespread human rights abuses across the continent.