US announces new sanctions on Russia
The US has announced new sanctions targeting Russian elites close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and yachts with ties to Putin, while the sanctions list also includes Sergey Roldugin, who allegedly manages Putin’s overseas assets, and his family members. The White House has expanded sanctions imposed on Russia over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and announced new sanctions targeting Russian elites close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was stated that the new sanctions, determined by the Treasury Department and the State Department, are aimed at preventing Russia from escaping the impact of existing sanctions. In a statement by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), it was stated that the new sanctions target Russian elites, including Putin. “Today’s action targets a yacht broker aligned with the Kremlin, several prominent Russian government officials, and a close associate of President Putin who is the custodian of his yacht fortune,” it said. The list also includes Roldugin, who allegedly manages Putin’s overseas assets The ministry stated that the names imposed sanctions include Sergei Roldugin, who is the godfather of one of Putin’s daughters and who allegedly manages his overseas assets, and his wife Elena Yuryevna Mirtova, the head of a Russian aircraft company Yury Slyusar, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev, Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, Construction, Housing and Public Services Minister Irek Envarovich Faizulin and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Yuryevic Grigorenko. US sanctions on Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova The statement added that God Nisanov, known as one of the richest in Europe, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the head of Severgroup and one of Russia’s richest billionaires Alexey Mordashov, and their associated family members were also subject to sanctions. Putin’s yachts targeted The department identified two luxury yachts, the Russian-flagged “Graceful” and the Cayman Islands-flagged “Olympia,” as properties with ties to Putin. The department noted that Putin went on numerous trips on these yachts. In continuation of the sanctions regarding the yachts, two more yachts, named Shellest and Nega, were targeted. Imperial Yachts SARL and its Chairman Evgeniy Borisovig Kochman were also on the sanctions list “We will continue to expose the corrupt systems by which Putin and his elite enrich themselves” Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson said in a statement: “Russia’s elite, including President Putin, rely on complex support networks to hide, transport, and protect their wealth and luxury assets. Today’s action shows that the Treasury can go after those responsible for protecting and perpetuating these ill-gotten interests. We will continue to enforce our sanctions and expose the corrupt systems by which President Putin and his elite enrich themselves.” The US Department of Commerce has imposed sanctions on 71 Russian and Belarusian companies, and the US Department of Commerce has said that by blocking 71 Russian and Belarusian companies from purchasing technological products from the United States, the Russian military is being restricted from accessing technologies it needs to continue its aggression.