UK office in charge of Russia sanctions has just 70 staff, says director

Office is overseeing surge of Russia-related sanctions to more than 1,400 after invasion of Ukraine

The UK's sanctions enforcement office has been trying to introduce the most extraordinary package of sanctions ever implemented" in UK history with a group of just 70 staff, its director has admitted.

The head of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), Giles Thomson, told MPs on the Treasury committee on Wednesday that his small team had been expected to oversee potential breaches of Russia-related sanctions despite the number of Moscow-related designations having surged from about 220 to more than 1,400 after the invasion of Ukraine.