The United States has announced sanctions targeting individuals and companies that are believed to be supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. These sanctions focus on entities in Turkey, China,

and the United Arab Emirates, aiming to disrupt Moscow's supply chains. The US Treasury Department has revealed that Russia has outsourced the production of military technology and equipment to other countries, using suppliers from various nations to acquire the necessary items.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated, "Russia is dependent on willing third-country individuals and entities to resupply its military and perpetuate its heinous war against Ukraine, and we will not hesitate in holding them accountable." Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 initiated the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.

The Treasury Department has pointed out that Russia has been taking advantage of "otherwise legitimate economic relationships" with other nations, particularly China, Turkey, and the UAE, who have supplied Russia with dual-use goods and critical components required for its weapons systems. The latest round of sanctions has targeted 130 new entities, including Turkish national Berk Turken, who is associated with a procurement network linked to Russian intelligence services, as well as a UAE-based network accused of involvement in Russian illicit finance. The sanctions also impact Russia's domestic industrial base, which has been reoriented to support the war machine, and the financial services sector, with seven Russian banks facing sanctions.

The US State Department is simultaneously implementing nearly 100 sanctions, addressing Russia's future energy production and revenue, the metals and mining sector, and defense procurement. These sanctions involve the blocking of all property and interests in property of the sanctioned parties in the US, along with restrictions on transactions involving them.

In a separate statement, the Commerce Department has blacklisted 13 entities for their involvement in supporting Russia's military through the procurement, development, and proliferation of Russian drones. Out of these entities, 12 are based in Russia, and one is in Uzbekistan. This action effectively prevents them from accessing items subject to US jurisdiction.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the new sanctions introduced by the US and called for their full implementation in an evening address. He emphasized the importance of these measures in the ongoing situation. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.