The UK government has announced plans to prohibit the export of accountancy, management consultancy and public relations services to Russia.

UK firms make up 10 per cent of Russian imports in these sectors, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It says Russia is heavily reliant on western services companies for the production and export of manufactured goods.

Legal services appear not to be included in the ban, although many of the largest UK-based law and accountancy firms have already announced their disengagement from the Russian market, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales' Managing Director Iain Wright.

The measures are not expected to take effect for several weeks, as it will take time for service providers to...