WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The United States yesterday imposed sanctions on over 120 targets to squeeze Russia for its war in Ukraine, pursuing entities linked to state-held energy company Rosatom and firms based in partner nations like Turkey in a sign of stepped-up enforcement.
The sanctions, imposed by the Treasury and State departments in concert with Britain, hit entities and individuals in over 20 nations and jurisdictions, including a Russian private military company, a China-based firm and a Russian-owned bank in Hungary.
The Treasury said it imposed sanctions on Russian financial facilitators and sanctions evaders around the world, including in the United Arab Emirates and China-based people and firms.
The actions reflect an effort by the U.S. government both to broaden the web of U.S. sanctions placed on Moscow since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and to squelch efforts to circumvent them.
One of the main targets was Russian billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov, whom the Treasury described as having “at his disposal a wide network of businesses in financial safe havens and family members through which to conduct financial transactions, enabling him to potentially circumvent sanctions.”
The State Department said it targeted the businessman’s company, USM Holdings, and multiple firms under it.
The company said it regarded the actions as “unjust and unfounded,” saying Usmanov, who has previously been subject to U.S. sanctions, had stepped down from business activity long ago and did not take part in management.
“The United States will continue to take action against Russia and those supporting its war in Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, saying it was in keeping with the Group of 7’s “commitment to impose severe consequences on third country actors who support Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
In addition to trying to choke the Russian economy, the United States and its allies have provided extensive weaponry to Ukraine in its 13-month effort to fend off the Russian invasion.
