23-2-2024 (WASHINGTON) In commemoration of the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has issued comprehensive sanctions, impacting more than 500 entities and individuals. The measures, announced on February 23, focus on various sectors, including the Mir payment system, Russian financial institutions, the military-industrial base, sanctions evasion, future energy production, and officials linked to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The US President, Joe Biden, highlighted that these actions aim to hold Russia accountable for both the war and Navalny’s demise. The sanctions underscore Washington’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, even as the country grapples with ammunition shortages and delays in US military aid approval.
The US Treasury Department targeted nearly 300 entities, while the State Department and Commerce Department addressed over 250 individuals and added 90 companies to the Entity List, respectively. This marks an escalation from the previous year when sanctions were imposed on over 200 entities and 90 companies on the war’s first anniversary.
The sanctions, coordinated with European Union members and Britain, represent the latest effort to pressure Russia. Since the 2022 invasion, thousands of targets have been announced by the US and its allies, though Russia’s resilient economy has proven more robust than anticipated.
With US funds for Ukraine depleted, and additional requests delayed in Congress, the Biden administration emphasizes the importance of supporting Ukraine against Russia’s aggression. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged Congress to join global allies in providing Ukraine the means to defend itself.
Key targets of the sanctions include the state-owned National Payment Card System, operator of the Mir payment system, along with Russian banks, investment firms, and fintech companies. Future energy production, specifically Russia’s Arctic-2 LNG project, and entities involved in sanctions evasion were also addressed.
The Treasury Department revealed plans for additional sanctions over the G7’s $60 price cap on Russian oil, aiming to increase costs for Russia’s use of an aging “shadow fleet” of tankers.
In response to Navalny’s death, the State Department targeted three Russian Federal Penitentiary Service officials, accusing them of involvement and instructing harsher treatment. Additionally, individuals linked to the forcible transfer or deportation of Ukrainian children to indoctrination camps in Russia, Belarus, and Crimea faced sanctions.
