The UK government on Wednesday announced 150 new sanctions against Russia – including a ban on video game controllers to prevent deadly drone attacks – and to further degrade the Kremlin’s ability to fund its invasion of Ukraine.
UK officials say the Russian military has been recently observed using generic video game controllers to pilot deadly drone attacks in Ukraine.
"We're ... banning outright video game controllers going to Russia, preventing them from being used to pilot drones on the frontline, meaning gaming consoles will no longer be repurposed to kill in Ukraine," UK Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty said in a statement released on Wednesday.
As a way to increase economic pressure on the Russian government, the new trade sanctions prohibit not only weapons programming and defense software, and dual use military technology (like the game controllers), but also targets Russia’s energy sector tamping down on its ability to search for and tap new oil and gas wells.
The UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), posted about the new sanctions package on X.
“BANNED: export of video game controllers used to pilot Russian drones on the front line in Ukraine,” it said.
“Today’s measures will also cut Russia's war machine off from innovative British tech, world-leading software, and close loopholes exploited by Putin's cronies.“
🔴 BANNED: export of video game controllers used to pilot Russian drones on the front line in Ukraine.
undefined Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) April 24, 2025
Today’s measures will also cut Russia's war machine off from innovative British tech, world-leading software, and close loopholes exploited by Putin's cronies. pic.twitter.com/An6L3RckV1
The UK sanctions announcement comes less than 24 hours after fresh drone attacks targeting Ukrainian civilians were launched by Russian forces. Ukraine’s military said over 200 drones and missiles were launched during the overnight attack.
“We condemn Russia’s latest vicious attacks on Kyiv and across Ukraine, killing and injuring dozens of civilians,” FCDO Secretary of State David Lammy commented about the attacks on social media.
“While Ukrainian ministers were in London working towards peace, Putin’s Russia was attacking the Ukrainian people. These are not the actions of a man of peace," he said.
In a further sign of solidarity, Doughty met with Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, in London on Wednesday to “support Ukraine's energy sector, in the face of brutal Russian attacks.”
In February, the EU adopted a similar policy banning video game console accessories and joysticks from being exported to Russia.
The full list of the UK’s technology sanctions against Russia includes military and dual-use technology, critical industry technology, oil refining technology, quantum computing and advanced materials technology, maritime technology, aviation and space technology, and defence and security technology.
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