U.S. Sanctions Over 120 Targets In 20 Countries For Supporting Russian Invasion

Washington D.C./13.04.23/Turan:   The Biden administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on more than 120 people and entities across more than 20 countries, including China, Armenia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Malta, Syria, Hungary and others, as part of a larger effort to crack down on sanctions evasion, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Announcing the latest sanctions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken made it clear that the U.S. and its allies will “continue to take action against Russia and those supporting its war in Ukraine, including further implementing the G7’s commitment to impose severe consequences on third country actors" who support Putin's war.

Among those targeted include China HEAD Aerospace Technology Co, a satellite image reseller based in Beijing that the U.S. believes supplied imagery of locations to entities affiliated with the Wagner Group. Another is the Patriot private military company that is associated with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Separately, the U.S. also imposed sanctions on the Hungary-based International Investment Bank, a controversial institution with ties to the Russian state.

One of the main targets of the Wednesday sanctions was Alisher Usmanov, a Russian tycoon with direct links to Vladimir Putin, as the U.S. targets 25 individuals and 29 entities across 20 jurisdictions for working with Usmanov.

"As the Kremlin seeks ways around the expansive multilateral sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine, the United States and our allies and partners will continue to disrupt evasion schemes that support Putin on the battlefield," said Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

In a joint effort, the State Department also sanctioned several entities for supporting the Ukraine invasion, including two that are responsible for militarizing and indoctrinating Ukrainian children.

Alex Raufoglu