HM Treasury announced that the UK government and National Crime Agency have issued the first nationwide industry alert on the Kremlin-backed A7 network, outlining methods used to evade international financial and trade sanctions. The chancellor also plans to double the maximum fine available to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation from 50% to 100% of the value of a sanctions breach. The alert is intended to help the private sector identify and disrupt A7’s use of complex, cross-border financial structures and third-country financial institutions. A7, which has also been linked to Iranian state-associated actors, claims to have settled more than USD 86 billion of transactions in its first year of operation.