Overview

• Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, former governor of Sevastopol, was convicted on six counts of breaching UK sanctions imposed due to his role in occupied Crimea.
• He was sentenced to 40 months in prison, with up to half the term to be served in custody, in a ruling delivered by Southwark Crown Court on April 11, 2025.
• This case marks the first individual conviction under the Russia Regulations 2019, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to enforcing sanctions related to Russia.
• Ovsiannikov’s wife transferred £76,000 into his UK bank account, while his brother paid £41,027 in private school fees for his children, both actions violating sanctions laws.
• The court highlighted the importance of this ruling as a deterrent, sending a strong message to individuals subject to sanctions for ties to the Russian government.