- United States imposes sanctions on more than 120 targets to choke Russia's invasion of Ukraine
- The US Treasury Department said it issued sanctions against Russian financial facilitators
- The move reflects efforts by the American government to broaden sanctions on Moscow as well as stomp on efforts made to circumvent them
The United States government issued sanctions on Wednesday for more than 120 targets to choke Russia's war efforts in its invasion of Ukraine, including entities linked to state-held energy company Rosatom.
Furthermore, authorities also imposed sanctions on firms based in Russian partner nations such as Turkey. Concerning Britain, the Treasury and State departments imposed sanctions that affect entities and individuals in more than 20 nations and jurisdictions. This includes a Russian private military company, a China-based firm, and a Russia-owned Hungary bank.
US Mass Sanctions
The Treasury Department said that sanctions were imposed on Russian financial facilitators and sanctions evaders worldwide. These include the United Arab Emirates and China-based individuals and companies, as per Reuters.
One of the primary targets of the latest sanctions was Russian billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov. The Treasury Department described the individual 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 circumvent sanctions potentially."
On the other hand, the State Department said that one of its targets for the sanctions was the businessman's company, USM Holdings, and several firms under it. However, the company said that the sanctions are "unjust" and "unfounded."
Company officials said that Usmanov, who has previously faced US sanctions, had already stepped down from business activity long ago and was not part of the management. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the American government would continue taking action against Russia's invasion and entities who support the war on Ukraine.
The official added that the latest move was made to follow suit with the G7's commitment to "impose severe consequences on third-country actors who support Russia's war in Ukraine."
Targeting to Choke Russia's Invasion Efforts
On the other hand, Treasury Department Undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson argued that Washington and others should continue efforts to disrupt evasion schemes that ultimately work in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin's objectives on the ground, according to News24.
Furthermore, the United States and its allies, on top of trying to choke Russia's economy, have provided extensive weaponry to Ukraine amid its 13-month effort to defend against Moscow's invasion efforts.
Blinken said that the sanctions come more than a year from the beginning of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. He noted that the effects of globally coordinated sanctions had forced Moscow to find alternate sources to fund its invasion.
The American official argued that with the help of the United Kingdom, the American government targeted the sanctions evasion network that supports one of the wealthiest people in Russia, said the Washington Examiner.
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