The British government on Thursday announced a fresh round of trade sanctions against Russia, including a ban on the export of video game controllers, which officials say are being repurposed to pilot drones used in the war against Ukraine. The move is aimed at cutting off supplies of everyday items that have been redirected for military use on the frontlines.
Sanctions minister Stephen Doughty, in a statement, highlighted that the ban would stop gaming devices from being used to facilitate 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,” he said.
This latest measure follows a similar move by the European Union earlier this year, which also restricted the sale of video game-related equipment to Russia. The UK government’s announcement came shortly after Ukraine’s air force reported a massive overnight attack involving 215 drones and missiles launched by Russia.
In addition to the ban on gaming equipment, the UK said it is blocking the export of advanced software used in the defence and energy sectors. This includes programmes designed for weapons production and exploration of new oil and gas reserves, in a bid to further restrict Russia’s military and industrial capabilities amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.