The UK announced Thursday that it is banning the export of video game controllers to Russia, aiming to prevent their use in piloting drones on the battlefield in Ukraine.
“We’re banning video game controllers from being sent to Russia to stop them from being repurposed for killing,” said Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty. “Gaming consoles will no longer be turned into tools of war.”
This move follows a recent Russian drone and missile barrage—215 launched overnight, according to Ukraine’s air force. The European Union imposed a similar ban earlier this year, targeting video game devices and joysticks.
In addition to controllers, Britain is also restricting the export of certain software, particularly programs used in Russia's defense and energy sectors. These include applications for weapons development and oil and gas exploration. Photo by Josh Sorenson, Wikimedia commons.