US imposes new sanctions on Russian individuals
The new sanctions target 22 individuals and two entities over accusations of advancing Moscow's objectives in Ukraine both before and after the war in Ukraine.
US Treasury Department announced on Thursday that Washington imposed new sanctions on individuals and groups that have allegedly aided “Russia in its war in Ukraine."
The new sanctions target 22 individuals and two entities “who advanced Moscow's objectives in Ukraine both before and after the war in Ukraine," as per the State Department.
In a statement, the US Treasury Department detailed that the new sanctions are being imposed in collaboration with the Commerce Department, which is imposing new export controls on Russia, and the State Department, which is targeting Russia's defense and high-technology industries.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “As Ukraine presses forward with defending its freedom, today we're taking steps to further degrade Russia’s ability to rebuild its military, hold perpetrators of violence accountable, and further financially isolate Putin."
In the same context, the United States has prohibited the sale or export of quantum computing services to any person located in Russia beginning on October 15, as per the US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
"Today, OFAC issued a determination pursuant to E.O. [executive order] 14071 prohibiting the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of quantum computing services to any person located in the Russian Federation. This prohibition will take effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 15, 2022," the Treasury Department added in a press release.
"The following individuals have been added to OFAC's SDN List: BALYTSKYI, Yevhen Vitaliiovych...EMELIANENKO, Viktor," the Treasury announced.
Other Zaporozhye regional officials sanctioned by the Treasury include Volodymyr Rogov, Mykyta Samoilenko, Andriy Siguta, and Anton Titskiy.
New sanctions also targeted the CEO of the "MIR" payment system, Vladimir Komlev, and the head of the central securities depository, Viktor Zhidkov.
The US will also target supporters of Russian sanctions evasion, including efforts to use or expand the MIR payment system outside of Russia, as per the Treasury Department.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the US and the EU have multiplied punitive measures to isolate Russia by targeting its banking system and freezing the assets of its leaders and its industries.
Many of the consequences, such as higher gas, electricity, and food prices, have already occurred or will occur. Meanwhile, western citizens are bearing the brunt of the sanctions on Russia, as gas prices are rising in a suffocating manner.