The United States Government has imposed more sanctions on over 60 individuals and entities complicit in the administration of Russia’s government-wide operations and policies of aggression toward Ukraine.
This is to mark one year February 24, 2022, that Russia launched its brutal unprovoked full-scale war against Ukraine, as United States remain committed to supporting the people of Ukraine and are redoubling its efforts to promote accountability for the Kremlin’s war.
Secretary of State, Antony Blinken who made this known in a statement on Friday, said “Our economic sanctions, export controls, and tariffs announced this week, in coordination with G7.
“Demonstrate that we will continue to work with our allies and partners to increase the pressure on Russia’s President Putin, make it harder for him to wage his brutal war, and continue degrading the Russian economy’s ability to fuel continued aggression.
He said, “as a part of today’s actions, Department of State is designating over 60 individuals and entities complicit in the administration of Russia’s govt-wide operations and policies of aggression toward Ukraine, in the illegitimate administration of occupied Ukrainian territories for the benefit of the Russian Federation.
Adding that, “these targets include government ministers, governors, and high-level officials in Russia, as well as six individuals and three entities operating in parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia, facilitating grain theft, and governing on behalf of Russia”.
Also, he said the Department is designating three entities involved in expanding Russia’s future energy production and export capacity. “These designations include entities involved in the design, construction of the Sever Bay Terminal as part of the Vostok oil projects.
“These actions are tailored in a way to avoid restricting current production to minimize market disruption. Today’s sanctions also include four individuals and 22 entities in Russia’s advanced technology sector.
“In particular, the Department is targeting manufacturers, developers of hardware and software for Russia’s intelligence collection capabilities through its System for Operational-Search Measures as part of our efforts to degrade Russia’s capacity to violently expand its imperial project around the globe.
Furthermore, Blinken stated that the Department is designating three key enterprises that develop and operate Russia’s nuclear weapons as well as three Russian civil nuclear entities under the Rosatom organizational structure.
“In taking these actions, we highlight that Russia uses energy resources, including in the nuclear sector, to exert political, economic pressure on its customers globally. We are also designating those engaged in Russia’s illegitimate control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
“Russia’s military attacks on, and subsequent seizure of the ZNPP, have only underscored the global concerns related to nuclear energy security and undermine the Kremlin’s efforts to portray itself as a responsible supplier of nuclear energy products.
“While to further degrade Putin’s ability to wage war, the Department of the Treasury is imposing sanctions on financial institutions—including additional banks—propping up Russia’s economy, dozens of Russian defense entities, and dozens of third-country actors connected to sanctions evasion activities.
“Furthermore, to increase pressure on Russia’s war machine, Treasury is also identifying the metals and mining sector of Russia’s economy as exposed to sanctions, designating four entities for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector”, Blinken said.
He made mention that as part of today’s efforts to increase costs on President Putin, President Joe Biden announced additional tariff increases on a variety of goods from Russia. “The President raised tariffs on most metal,metal products, to 70 percent, further targeting this crucial sector of Russia’s economy.
“The President also increased tariffs on additional Russian products to 35 percent. These measures are designed to target key Russian commodities generating revenue for the Kremlin while reducing U.S. reliance on Russia”.
He revealed further that the Department of Commerce issued four rules imposing additional export restrictions on Russia, Belarus, and Iran, as well as entities in third countries, in response to Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.
“The first rule aims to enhance the effectiveness of the multilateral sanctions on Russia by further limiting access to items that enable Russia’s military capabilities and sources of revenue that could support those capabilities.
“The second rule imposes new export control measures on Iran, Russia, and Belarus to address Russia’s use of Iranian UAVs in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
“The third and fourth rules add to the Entity List entities in Russia supporting Russia’s military, Russia’s filtration operations in occupied areas of Ukraine, as well as entities in third countries, including China, for contributing to Russia’s military or defense industrial base.
He finalized that the Department of State is announcing steps to impose visa restrictions on 1,219 members of the Russian military, including officers, for actions that threaten or violate the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of Ukraine.
“This effort is pursuant to a policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which restricts visa issuance to those who are believed to have supported, been actively complicit in, or been responsible for ordering or otherwise directing or authorizing these actions.
“Russian military officials Artyom Igorevich Gorodilov, Aleksey Sergeyevich Bulgakov, and Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Vasilyev are being designated under Section 7031(c) for their involvement in gross violations of human rights perpetrated against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of wars.
“Under this authority, Gorodilov, Bulgakov, and Vasilyev, and their immediate family members, are ineligible for entry into the United States. Ukraine is a symbol of freedom for us all. The United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as takes.
“The United States continues to rally the world to support Ukraine. Our actions today are made even more powerful because we are taking them in coordination with G7 partners, demonstrating our ongoing unity in working to ensure Russia bears costs for its brutal war”.