War: The United Kingdom sanctions Putin's cousin, Russia's second-richest man, among others

The UK on Wednesday announced further sanctions against Russian citizens and companies.

The sanction included some people described as members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "inner circle".

Among those sanctioned is Vladimir Potanin, described by the UK as the second richest man in Russia.

He is said to have an estimated net worth of nearly $16 billion and is a "key Kremlin supporter" who has been accused of continuing to "accumulate wealth while supporting Putin's regime."

Putin's cousin Anna Tsivileva was also sanctioned.

As president of Russia's coal mining company JSC Kolmar Group, also sanctioned on Tuesday,  the UK believes Tsivileva and her husband Sergey Tsivilev, the governor of the coal-rich Kemerovo region, have "benefited significantly" from their relationship with Putin.

The UK's recent sanctions also target Russian citizens and companies for their alleged involvement in supporting the Assad regime in Syria, a key Russian ally in the Middle East.

“As long as Putin continues his heinous attack on Ukraine, we will use sanctions to weaken the Russian war machine.

"Today's sanctions show that nothing and no one is off the table, including Putin's inner circle," said a UK government spokesman.