MOSCOW, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia has barred seven British defense industry executives from entering the country, accusing their companies of supplying Ukraine with weapons and military technologies, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
In a statement published on its website, the ministry said the executives were added to Russia's entry ban list because their companies supply weapons and technologies that are used in Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Three of the executives are from Rotron Aerospace: CEO Alex Head, chief military adviser Kev Oliver and board chairman George Zambellas. The company is involved in the development of the Brakestop long-range missile project, the ministry said.
The other four are Robert Gascoyne, CEO of MGI Engineering, which is also involved in the Brakestop project; Neil Appleton, CEO of drone maker Malloy Aeronautics; Paul Webb, director and co-founder of reconnaissance drone maker Tekever UK; and Julian Cracknell, chief technology and information officer at BAE Systems.
The ministry accused Britain of supplying Ukraine with missile and drone weapons and technologies, with the aim of inflicting maximum damage on Russia. It also criticized the British government's defense spending priorities, arguing that funds allocated to military contractors could instead be used to support Britain's civilian sector amid domestic economic and social challenges. ■
