Britain’s government will officially label Russian mercenary company Wagner a “terrorist” organisation, which could mean financial sanctions and other measures against it, in a bid to increase pressure on Russia as the war in Ukraine nears its fifteen-month mark. The Times newspaper reported yesterday Tuesday.

Wagner’s mercenaries have been spearheaded by Russia’s operations in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, where fighting has raged for nine months, starting in the summer of 2022.

Britain’s Home Office has been collecting information on Wagner for the past two months and is expected to designate the private military company a “terrorist” organization immediately, within days to weeks at the most, according to a report by The Times of London, which cited a government source.

Which means it will be a criminal offense in Britain to work for Wagner, attend rallies of its members, support it or wear its symbols and logo in public, the paper explained.

The company will also face sanctions and will not be able to raise funding through UK financial institutions.

There is no evidence that Wagner or people associated with her were present or active in Britain after the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, according to the report.

There are, however, “suspicions” that the mercenary firm helped funnel funds out of the UK after sanctions were imposed on Russian oligarchs and allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, at least according to the Times’ source.

Britain’s Home Office only said it was aware of the report and was looking into it when asked for comment by the Reuters news agency.